A SHOOTING star in the world of wheelchair basketball has pulled off a hat-trick of awards alongside his triplet siblings to recognise his determination and strength to overcome adversity.

With his brother and sister at his side, 17-year-old Liam Readle proudly accepted an accolade to honour the remarkable progress he has made from a shy youngster to an inspirational young man.

Liam was the only one of his siblings to be born with a disability and struggled to cope with his cerebral palsy as a young teenager to the point where he self-harmed.

But his time at St Michael’s Catholic Academy, in Billingham, turned Liam’s life around when Paralympian Lee Fawcett visited the school and encourage the youngster to consider a career in sport.

The determined teenager from Norton, near Stockton, went on to become the youngest ever selected for the U18s England North-East team at just 14 and is on track to be part of the 2020 GB Paralympic Games squad.

At an awards ceremony held by his secondary school, Liam received the Good Shepherd Award, in memory of former St Michael’s special education needs leader Kathryn Taylor.

He said: “It feels really special to win this award especially as Mrs Taylor was my form tutor.

“St Michael’s Academy totally changed my life. I used to dislike school, especially PE lessons, until my teacher got me into wheelchair basketball.

“I went from thinking that I wasn’t good enough at anything to now potentially being on my way to the Olympics and the support from staff and friends here has been incredible.”

He was joined in his celebrations by sister Faye, a hairdressing student, who collected the Academy’s Alan Parker Award and brother Dean, a uniformed services student who was presented with the Heenan Compassion Shield.

The awards were among dozens of accolades to be presented at the glittering celebration event hosted by head teacher Andrew Ramsey.

Liam, who plays for the Tees Valley Titans wheelchair basketball team, was also recognised during The Northern Echo’s Local Heroes Awards 2017 when he scooped the Junior Remarkable Achievement Award.

With the support of his siblings, he has since gone on to secure an elite basketball sport scholarship at Hartlepool College.