Keighley teenager Damyan Foster has won Yorkshire's Unsung Hero award in recognition of his work for the local community.

Damyan, 16, is the driving force behind the Lawkholme Lane Action Group. He was one of eight Yorkshire Young Achievers of the year announced at a presentation dinner at the Leeds United Banqueting Suite at Elland Road last night. The identities of the award-winners were closely-guarded secrets until the presentations, which were hosted by Yorkshire TV's Christa Ackroyd.

Former Lothersdale girl India Farmer, five, who is battling against leukaemia, was judged Yorkshire Youngster of the Year.

Damyan is described as 'an inspiration' by Keighley police's youth liaison officer PC Lee Holmes who nominated the teenager for the award. The Lawkholme Lane Action Group has, under PC Holmes' guidance, undertaken several projects to clean up the Lawkholme area.

The group's past achievements have included:

successfully persuading Bradford council to clean a graffiti-ridden subway under Hard Ings Road

working with the council to bring in a programme of tidying the gardens of elderly people

clearing the litter-strewn yard of All Saint's Church, Highfield.

Damyan also played a prominent part in the National Spring Clean '98 campaign.

"Along with other members of the group Damyan wanted to improve his community so got up and did something about it," says PC Holmes. "It is a nice change to see good work being carried out in the community being rewarded instead of the bad publicity that young people seem to attract."

He adds that Damyan is one of many young people in the Keighley area who are involved in voluntary work.

Modest Damyan cannot think why he was singled out as a nominee. Having attended action group meetings since being invited along by a friend three years ago he describes himself as 'just a member'.

He adds: "I was really chuffed and shocked when I found out."

Damyan is also a Sea Cadet and spent a month of his summer holidays helping with the Keighley Police Summer Scheme for young people. There he ran the tuck shop and umpired at sporting events. A former pupil at Greenhead Grammar School he is currently studying for a B-Tec National Diploma in Electro-Mechanical Engineering at Keighley College. He eventually hopes to join the Royal Navy or Police Force.

The awards, run by NCH Action for Children, recognise the achievement of young people in Yorkshire and Humberside. Damyan was one of 21 nominees shortlisted from hundreds. Winner of the Yorkshire Personality of the Year award was Malandra Burrows from Yorkshire TV's Emmerdale.

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