A VOLUNTEER coastguard and a young boy from the region have been rewarded for their bravery and resilience in a national competition.

Elliot Brown and Paul Waugh have been given £2,000-worth of vouchers after being honoured in the nationwide 40 Christmas Wishes awards.

Eight-year-old Elliot, from Darlington, won his prize in the Overcoming Disaster category after he was seriously injured in a horrific accident while on holiday.

Mr Waugh, 40, from Skelton Green, in East Cleveland, won the Hero of the Year award for his role in a daring clifftop rescue of a teenage girl.

Elliot had to undergo lifesaving treatment after he became crushed under the wheels of a runaway horsedrawn carriage during a family holiday to Tunisia.

He needed 50 stitches to his face, skin grafts on his knees and a metal halo bolted to his head.

The treatment meant that the football-mad youngster has been unable to take part in any sport.

His mother, Sharon, who nominated him for the award, said: "After nearly a year, Elliot can now walk again.

"He can't ride a bike or play football, but he's getting there.

"We've been to hell and back, but Elliot's soldiered on through everything. I'm so proud of him."

Last January, in strong winds and freezing cold, with darkness setting in, Skinningrove coastguard Mr Waugh climbed down a cliff without safety equipment to rescue Faye Harrison, 13, who had become trapped.

Faye was left clinging to tufts of grass as the ledge she was standing on gave way.

As they awaited a helicopter and winch, Mr Waugh positioned himself with his arms around the teenager so she would not fall over the 300ft drop and reassured her for 30 minutes.

Coastguards Eric Lorrains and Gordon Hogg were also involved in the rescue.

Coincidentally, it was the second time Mr Waugh had helped the teenager.

She was rescued by him last year when she became trapped by the tide.

Mr Waugh was nominated for the award by his wife, Sue.

She said: "The young girl sent him a letter saying she had planned her funeral in her head before he rescued her and thanked him for saving her life a second time.

"Paul's the kind of man who is always helping people.

"He and the team have saved everyone, from dog-walkers lost in the fog on the cliffs, to children trapped by the tide."

The 40 Christmas Wishes competition was organised by Park Group, the Christmas savings company, to celebrate its 40th anniversary. It gave 40 prizes of vouchers worth a total of £40,000.

Managing director Gary Woods said: "Paul and Elliot's stories are a testament to the bravery which goes on all around us and is often unacknowledged."