A Northallerton student has been presented with her Duke of Edinburgh gold award at Buckingham Palace.

Elizabeth Fawcett, 19, of Thirsk Road, gained her bronze, silver and gold awards while studying at Allertonshire school and then Northallerton College.

For her gold award, she worked with Beavers in the Scouts' Association as her service, studied psychology as her skill, went to the Lake District for her expedition, played badminton as her physical recreation, and did conservation work as her residential project.

She said: "It was a worthwhile, fun experience in which many skills and new friends were made. I would recommend others to do the same."

At Buckingham Palace, she met royalty and celebrities ranging from the television Ground Force team to Chris Tarrant, Nick Berry and the Antiques Roadshow experts.