A SOLICITOR has won a national award for her work to protect young people in North Yorkshire.

Emma Meredith, 27, from Northallerton, has won the award as outstanding newcomer in the field of Child Law from the Association of Lawyers for Children.

Ms Meredith works for North Yorkshire County Council.

She said: "I'm absolutely thrilled about receiving this award from such a prestigious organisation.

"While I'm delighted for myself, the award wouldn't have been possible without the help and support of the county council's social services legal team."

She will receive £1,000 which she plans to spend on further studies and something for her new house.

In the commendation, Ms Meredith was praised for taking on her own cases rather than instructing counsel.

She was also applauded for mastering complex areas of law, such as inter-country adoption, and playing an active part in the training of social workers in the skills needed to present a case at court.

Councillor Carl Les, the county council's executive member for corporate services, said yesterday: "Emma has achieved this award in competition with the finest new child care lawyers in the country - we are all thrilled for her."