A Bradford Scout leader has been presented with one of the organisation’s top honours for saving the lives of two boys swept out to sea near Whitby, putting himself in danger.

Mathew Roberts, 20, was standing in the sea on a camping trip to the east coast when a rogue wave toppled him over.

As he came to his senses he heard screams from a cub Scout, aged ten, who was in difficulty after being knocked over and pulled into deep water by the current.

Mr Roberts, a former Thornton Grammar School pupil, battled the waves to swim out to the stranded boy.

He rescued him by lifting him on to a ledge on a harbour wall. That is when he noticed an older boy Scout, Luke Britton, aged 13, struggling to stay afloat nearby, so he dragged Luke to rocks where they could scramble to dry land.

Mr Roberts, who is studying a BTEC National Diploma in sport at Bradford College and wants to be a teacher, has been rewarded for his heroics by Chief Scout and adventurer Bear Grylls, who presented him with the Gilt Cross – the third highest Scouting honour for gallantry – when he came to a Scouting event at Blackhills Scout Camp in Wilsden.

He is one of only four recipients of the award this year.