SPRINTER Amy Spencer is the Bolton Evening News Sports Personality of the year.

Sixteen-year-old Amy recently beat the best open age women 200m runners to win the AAA's indoor title and send alarm bells ringing around the British sprinting scene.

This was her latest success in an incredible 12 months which has seen her win silver in the World Under-18s championships in Hungary, gold in the Under-23 AAA's outdoor championships and be voted the first ever BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.

Her achievements have put her on the starting blocks of a potentially glorious athletics career.

Amy is an extra special winner of the award as she was eligible for the BEN Young Sports Personality Award but, just like in her athletics career, she stepped up to compete with and beat the senior challengers.

Amy received her award from Bolton Evening News sports writer Neil Bonnar when she went back to where it all started - Scot Lane End CE Primary School in Blackrod.

She gave a talk to the children about her life as an athlete and the Bolton Evening News was there to surprise her with the award.

At the school, which her brother Tom attends and her mum Julie is a governor, she met up again with her former teachers Mrs Maureen Gibbons and Mrs Helen Gambles who set her on the road to a running career.

They picked her to represent the school in the annual Blackrod and Horwich 'mini marathon' and sprint because she was the fastest runner and her fine performance against youngsters a year older than herself led to the school forming a running team around Amy and then her joining Wigan Athletic Club before being coached by her dad Graham to her current top grade status.

Head teacher Mrs Ann Willacy said: "The school is very proud of Amy and we are excited at the success she is having."