A CITIZEN delivery boy has just received a special package of his own this week after scooping a coveted award for outstanding service.

For Simon Phillipson from Carrington Road, Chorley, has just been presented with a top-of-the-range portable television - top prize in the Citizen's delivery award scheme.

The 15-year-old has been pushing the Chorley Citizen through people's letterboxes for the past couple of years in all types of weather - without ever having a day off or ringing in sick.

Simon told us: "I'm really pleased to have got this award. For me, the job is good experience to work to get your money.

"Sometimes it can be really hard work going out in the wind and rain every week, but I enjoy the job most of the time and it's some money in my back pocket."

Simon, who's about to crack on with his GCSEs at Holy Cross High School, landed the job as delivery boy after a friend who used to do the rounds gave it up.

"I knew a guy who used to deliver the papers before me, so when he finally left the job I got first refusal."

Yet, Simon could soon give up his round - he has his sights firmly set on a career in engineering as a British Aerospace apprentice.

"I've been doing a part-time course in engineering every Saturday now for months, and I have just had a letter through the post from British Aerospace asking me to go for an interview."

But, there is one aspect of the delivery job he will miss once he makes it with British Aerospace - the tips!

He added: "The best bit about the job is the tips at Christmas. And, I always find that it's elderly people in Chorley who always give you a couple of quid!"

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