THESE talented teenagers are the pride of their village.

Seventeen-year -old Mhairi Dunn and 15-year-old Tom Quinn have scooped awards for their contribution to life in south York during 2006.

They were presented with Bishopthorpe Millennium Youth Awards at a ceremony at St Andrew's Church Hall, in Bishopthorpe, on Tuesday evening.

Each winner was given a certificate and a cheque for £100, which were presented by the Lord Mayor, Coun Janet Hopton.

Mhairi was commended for her outstanding contribution to a number of different youth groups in the Bishopthorpe area.

She was described as a "dedicated and caring young lady who makes a lot of time for others".

Mhairi is a leader of the Summit youth group, runs a monthly café church service for youngsters, has starred in the annual village pantomime and helps with a holiday club for children.

Tom's was for helping with the local canoe club and his achievements as a canoeist.

The teenager is no stranger to winning awards.

Tom, who is a member of the Tadcaster-based Lower Wharfe Canoe Club, which regularly paddles on the River Ouse, is also British under-16s canoeing champion in the Canadian-single slalom category. He won the British Division One championship in the same class last year.

He is a member of the British Under-16 team and is in England's top boat for this year's Home Internationals competition.

Tom plans to spend his prize money on a laptop computer and Mhairi will also put hers towards a laptop.

John Betteridge, chairman of the Bishopthorpe Millennium Trust, said: "It's so good to be able to celebrate the successes of these young people. Too often we get the negative vibes about young people. This is such a good opportunity to recognise all of the good things that they do."

The trust makes two awards each year to young people aged between 11 and 18 who live in the village and who have done something particularly helpful for someone in need, a good cause, or a local club or organisation. This is the sixth year of the awards.