A TEENAGER from Ashwell has shared the Herts BAA Young People of the Year title. Alice Burkitt, 19, won £500 for herself and £500 for the charity Headway North Herts and Stevenage, the charity that has been helping her to cope since her mother Ruth suffer

A TEENAGER from Ashwell has shared the Herts BAA Young People of the Year title.

Alice Burkitt, 19, won £500 for herself and £500 for the charity Headway North Herts and Stevenage, the charity that has been helping her to cope since her mother Ruth suffered a stroke.

Part-time college student Alice said: "I was surprised to win but thrilled.

"The competition was tough, everyone should have won in their own right."

Alice, of Woodforde Close, shared the prize with Yasmin's Circle of Friends, four 10-year-old girls from Watford that look after Yasmin who has Down's Syndrome.

Herts Police Authority chairman Ian Laidlaw-Dickson said: "We often hear about nuisance behaviour by young people, but rarely do we read or hear about the excellent work done by young people in the county.

"These awards recognise the excellent and often heart-warming things they do for others," he said.

The ceremony took place at County Hall on Friday and was attended by Arsenal and England soccer star Theo Walcott and civic dignitaries, politicians and business and education leaders from across the county.

Alice, who was herself being cared for at the time of her mother's stroke, has been Ruth's main carer since November 2005.

"I was still suffering from ME - myalgic encephalomyelitis - which had affected me for six years."

At the time Alice's two brothers were away from home, but she visited her mother in hospital every day.

She was nominated for the award - which has "revealed, recognised and rewarded" hundreds of young people for their hard work - by Headway.

Alice is about to complete a course in production tailoring and is heading for a future in fashion.

"I am starting another course in September in menswear design at the London College of Fashion," she said.

Organisers are seeking entries for the next North Herts Yopey awards.

- For more information visit the website at www.yopey.org