TWO Ramsbottom students who helped to make school life easier for fellow pupils have been honoured with a prestigious award.

Laura Sharkey and Bev Meadows, both aged 16, were presented with the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award for Young People for their inspirational work in setting up a drop-in centre for pupils at Woodhey High School.

The centre took six months to organise and finally opened last November with multi-agency groups including Early Break, Connexions and YPAS providing help and advice for one hour every Monday lunchtime.

The girls were nominated for the award, which recognises the contribution young people make to their school, family or community, by the school council after playing an integral part in setting up the club and the popular 'buddy' system.

Deputy headteacher Pam Burrow said: "The girls have played a key role at the centre reporting the pupils" views and keeping us abreast of what the children want.

"Part of the facility is to have pupils act as "buddies" for other children and they are trained to help them deal with different issues. Both the girls are buddies and their contribution has been so significant that we wanted them to have some recognition.

"We are very pleased with the way the buddies are used and the children seem more comfortable talking with young people about issues they may not want to talk about with adults."

Laura and Bev, who left the school this summer and are now studying at Holy Cross College, were presented with their certificates and a lapel badge from Bury Council"s executive director of children"s services, Eleni Ioannides.

Mrs Burrow added: "The centre has proved very popular and exceeded my wildest expectations each week, with 40 to 80 young people attending in just one hour and Laura and Bev have helped make that happen."