A North-East young leaders organisation has won two national awards - only six months after its launch.

JCI North-East England won praise and accolades at the national Celebrating Achievement Awards, organised by Junior Chamber International UK, in Newcastle. Businessman Haani Ul Hasnain, chief executive of Haani Cables, in Hartlepool, received The Dale Carnegie Most Outstanding Leader award for his efforts to launch and lead the new North-East branch.

JCI North-East England, sponsored by regional development agency One NorthEast and the North East Chamber of Commerce, was also named the Most Outstanding Membership and Recruitment Programme.

Mr Ul Hasnain said: "These awards were unexpected but are a spectacular reward for the many hours of hard work put in by a dedicated team of young rising talent from our region."

JCI North-East England was launched in May, and provides an opportunity for young leaders in their 20s and 30s to be involved in a diverse range of projects.

JCI is a worldwide organisation with more than 250,000 members in 120 countries. Its alumni include Kofi Annan, Jacques Chirac and Bill Clinton.