A 16-year-old from Keighley who devotes his spare time to volunteer work in the community has won a special youth award.

John Whitaker has been working to enrich the community for the past four years and has been given the Soroptimist International Youth in the Community Award 2002.

John, of Fell Lane, and a former pupil of Oakbank School, started volunteering for the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, spending most of his weekends and spare time assisting.

He said: "I've done all sorts of work for them, maintenance, restoration, sales and catering.

"I have been volunteering for Keighley Volunteer Bureau for the past three years and joined the youth volunteer project Prime Movers in March 2000.

"I get a lot out of it, volunteering has given me the chance to experience all kinds of work and meet lots of new people.

"People think of it as unpaid work but it's a lot more than that. I have so much more knowledge now and it's opened a lot of interesting doors for me. It is very rewarding and I would definitely recommend it."

When nominating him for the award, Sharn Richardson, of Keighley Volunteer Bureau, wrote: "John has helped with community clean-ups, assisted with a Manorlands summer fete and has promoted youth volunteering by participating in a float for Keighley Gala last year.

"He recently gave a presentation of his work and experiences at our annual meeting, which he carried out professionally and with ease."

She added: "Through volunteering John has become a very caring individual who works well with other people of any age, race or culture, taking individual needs and differences seriously."

John is a representative on the national board of Youth Bank and is currently working on a video - Youth Vision - and the setting up of a Youth Council for Keighley.

He will start studying travel and tourism at Keighley College in September.

The two joint runners up for the award are Sarah Wild and Eleanor Blakelock. Sarah, 17, of Long Lee, works extensively with the Explorer Scouts initiative.

Her nominator, Jeanette Young, wrote: "Sarah is a good role model to a lot of children particularly in Scouting. She is in full-time employment and yet is always prepared to make time to give help and assistance no matter the task."

Eleanor, 18, of Malsis Road, was recognised for her work with the Oakworth Brownies.

Her nominator, Gillian Gallagher, said: "Eleanor deserves the award for her caring and positive attitude towards life in general. Her commitment to helping the youth of today is an example to us all."

Pam Greenwood, of Soroptimist International, said: "We have many problems in our town, but we were inundated with nominations for this award, showing just how very many compassionate, dependable and responsible young people there are.

"We would like to acknowledge and publicly value the young people who are committed to making Keighley and the world a better place."

The award winners will be presented with certificates and a prize at a fundraising concert, at Bingley Arts Centre, on September 28.