YOUNGSTERS from the region have been praised for their achievements at an awards ceremony in honour of people battling to cope with cystic fibrosis.

Two children from the region picked up top awards at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust Awards held in London yesterday, and others from the North-East were nominated.

The awards, sponsored by Next, recognise the exceptional achievements of young people and adults across the UK who live with cystic fibrosis, the country's most common, life threatening, inherited disease.

In the Junior Sports Category, all three of the nominees were from County Durham, with nine-year-old Sophie Wood, from Bowburn, near Durham City, taking home the winner's award.

She was praised for her achievements in gymnastics, where she is rated in the top 20 nationally.

Runners-up in the category were Joe Hughes, ten, from Chester-le-Street, and Christopher Kerr, 14, from Newton Aycliffe.

In the Junior Academic category, 16-year-old Holly Bryce from Jarrow, South Tyneside, was named overall winner in that section for her achievements at St Wilfred RC Comprehensive School, in South Shields.

And Leeds University student Angharad Sutton, 21, from Thirsk, in North Yorkshire, was nominated in the Adult Academic category.

The strong North-East show at the awards ceremony, which is the biggest event in the Cystic Fibrosis Trust's calendar, was noted by organisers.

Sarah Guthrie, head of communications and corporate fundraising for the trust, said: "Sophie and Holly have done remarkably well, but all the nominees are winners, because they have achieved remarkable things despite suffering from cystic fibrosis."