PUBLIC-spirited young people from across York have been rewarded for their efforts in a national youth programme.

More than 200 people between the ages of 14 and 25 gained bronze, silver or gold Duke of Edinburgh awards after undertaking physical and mental challenges throughout last year.

The awards were presented by the Lord Mayor of York, Coun David Horton. Bronze was given to 158 young people, 33 achieved silver level, and 26 took the coveted gold award.

To qualify, participants had to work hard at improving skills such as learning foreign languages, doing community work and undergoing a physical expedition.

Sharrona Benton, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award co-ordinator at City of York Council, said: "The scheme encourages young people to undertake exciting, constructive, challenging and enjoyable activities in their free time.

"It is fantastic that so many young people from across the city have gained awards."

The scheme is a voluntary, non-competitive programme aimed at helping to support the development of young people.

Award-winners were:

All Saints' School

Gold: Danielle Jackson.

Silver: Simon Fidler, Stuart Durham, Nicola Holmes, Alex Outhwaite, Louise Reed, Mark Jackson, Saorise Tracy.

Bronze: Fiona Addison, Joe Atkins, Catherine Campbell, Adam Conroy, Tom Fenech, Louise Geelan, Harriet Guest, Lucy Hargreaves, Hannah Hessle, Aisling Hodson, Mark Jackson, Vick Jankee, Aimee Lawson, Claire MacCrory, Lucy Morgan, Rachael Price, Stephanie Price, Kirsten Scriven, Joseph Smith, Joseph Temple, Saoirse Tracy, Sarah Wilson.

110 (City of York) Squadron

Air Training Corps

Gold: Gemma Endersby, James Garnett.

Silver: James Garnett, Lee Hodgkinson.

Bronze: Kevin Bancroft, Simon Flint, Sophie Frazer, James Goodwin, Fiona Gregg, Michael Holden, John Holmes, James Howat, David Johnson, Alex Kemp, Hazel Kerrison, Alex Murphy, Mark Pentich, Sean Rescourl, Ben Wood.

Barbican Open Award Unit

Gold: James Hobson, Leslie Herbert, Jennifer Robinson, Caroline Smith, Luke Spiers, Phillipa Timmins.

Silver: Laura Gildham, James Hobson, Jemma Gunson, Hannah Morse, Adam Stirk.

Bronze: Emily Ackroy, Catherine Bellwood, Neil Brighton, Samantha Cosgrove, Beth Flanagan, Emma French, Rupert Hoyland, Gemma Lund.

Bootham School

Gold: Hannah Spiers.

Bronze: Chris Hoggett, Angela Newton, Holly Peake, Jenny Popplewell.

Canon Lee School

Silver: Rose Gordon, Danielle Healey, Kim Sellars, Daniel Wilkinson.

Bronze: Jill Deighton, Danielle Healey, Katy Hirst, Daniel Wilkinson.

Fulford School

Bronze: Chris Benson, Edward Carrigan, Amanda Coward, Daniel Gough, Ben Hall, Laura Henwood, Amy Ind, Andrea Jouglin, Matthew Keeble, Philip Luscombe, James McMahon, Richard Merchant, Dan Nicholson, James Ramm, Kate Roberts, Jenny Rowland, Matthew Scott, Katie Shelton, Anna Skilbeck, Alice Stone, Daniel Stringer, Lawrence Tate, Kimberly Topham, Joshua Warren, Mark Whitfield, Toby Wilson.

Huntington School

Gold: Joanda Grummitt, Stephanie Jackson, Peter Robson.

Silver: Elleanor Grummitt, Elin Morris, James Stacey.

Bronze: Claire Arnold, Elin Morris, James Owen, James Stacey, Gregory Trottett.

Joseph Rowntree School

Bronze: John Crundwell, Rachael Hunter, Nicola Reed, Philip Taylor, Ian Wilmott, Jane Thackray.

Lowfields School

Bronze: Amy Elliott, Victoria Hudson, Hannah Keenhan, Vicky Knaggs, Wayne Leaf, Lauren Parker, Susannah Reed, Sarah Speed, Rebecca Turver.

Manor School

Bronze: Alice Bean, Matthew Boynton, Jennifer Conde, John Cuss, Laura Denner, Stephanie Gladders, Gavin Husband, Ben Janes, Hester McTurk, David Pickles, James Wright.

Millthorpe School

Silver: Philip Bennett, Laura Birch, Elizabeth Bryans, Hayley Cooke, Mark Cordner, Gail Hodgkinson, James Howard, Daniel Molesworth, Craig Stevenson, Emma Stirk.

Bronze: Luke Armitage, Matthew Bell, Claire Colley, Hayley Cooke, Elizabeth Coop, Joseph Curtis, Lizzie Dawson, Matthew Donoghue, Heather Dowker, Stephanie Drew, Gemma Fletcher, Sophie Foster, Joanna Foulsham, Hannah Frame, Jennie Gardner, Maxine Gee, Patrick Gower, Rachel Hemblade, John Heppel, Thomas Hocking, Bethany Hurrell, Chris Jenkins, Jack Jewers, Jessica Knowles, Charlotte Long, Josie McCrickard, Katie McSweeney, Emily Searan, Lucy Shaw, Mark Skinner, Laura Smith, Ben Thompson, Harriet Unwin, Natalie Whaite, Natalie Wood.

St Peter's School

Bronze: Natalie Baldry, Anna Clarke, Tobi Robinson.

The Mount School

Gold: Suzanne Abbott, Anne Norton, Katie Sykes.

Silver: Lindsay Coover, Anne-Marie Fitzpatrick.

Bronze: Rosa Bellamyze, Samantha Butters, Sally ChowTsz Yin, Sandy Emmerson, Grace FuKa Yee, Claire Fulford, Rachel Haggie, Macrarena Olazabal, Claire Phillips, Warittha Urapeepatanapong.

The University of York

Gold: Robin Blag, Ruth Tromans.

Silver: Joanne Bell, Sarah Carlyle.

York Sixth Form College

Gold: Alexandra Barthow, Helen Bryan, Amy Crowther, Craig Genner, Karl Hearfield, Alesia Hunt, Natalie Skinner, Claire Stephenson, Gemma Youlten.

Updated: 09:19 Monday, January 13, 2003