WORDS can scarcely express the courage shown by our Spirit of Youth winner Natalie Hick.

The 13-year-old endured immense distress when she was the victim of an attempted abduction as she made her way home one day last year.

But Natalie fought back defiantly, waiving her legal right to anonymity and spearheading The Press's Change It! campaign to close the loophole which means some child abductors are not placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

The campaign has been widely supported by the people of York, national charities and politicians of all parties, and we are soon to hand over a massive petition to Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland.

None of this would have been possible without Natalie's inspirational bravery.

No 13-year-old should have to go through what Natalie has, but hopefully this award will go at least some way to letting her know how admired she is.

Natalie - who was sat at table 23 - said: "Because we were so far back I did not think we were getting it, but it's nice to win."

Her mum, June, said: "We are extremely proud to have won.

"Natalie was overwhelmed but it's nice.

"She has gone through so much, but it's nice to be recognised.

"I would much rather it had not happened in the first place, but as it has it's good something positive has come out of it."

"Natalie was overwhelmed but it's nice. She has gone through so much but it's nice to be recognised."