A TEENAGE choirboy has won a top national award.

Scott Richardson, 14, from Catterick Village, is one of only 30 people in the country to receive a Royal School of Church Music gold award.

Scott is head chorister of St Mary's Church choir, in Richmond.

The Richmond School pupil first became a chorister with Christ Church choir, in Harrogate, five years ago.

When he moved to Richmond in 2003, he was already a dean's chorister and singing with the Northern Cathedral Singers.

To achieve a gold award, Scott had to complete written papers, take an oral exam on church music and its place in worship, and give a performance of plainsong, chanting and solo singing.

Presenting the award, the Reverend Canon Richard Cooper, rector of Richmond, congratulated Scott on a "great achievement".

He said it reflected well on the choir, director of music Roger Ohr and former Catterick bandmaster and organist Colin Hicks, who prepared Scott for the exam.