A KIND-HEARTED teenager has been rewarded for his hard work.

Eighteen-year-old Craig Cummings, from Trimdon, has been crowned media student of the year at Darlington College.

His devotion to his family and his coursework earned him the prize of Darlington College's Media Student of the Year as, despite his personal circumstances, he completed a First Diploma in Media.

Craig gets up at 5.30am to look after his disabled parents before catching the bus into Darlington to attend college.

He said: "I was attracted to Darlington College by the course, which I think is the best in the area and one of the best in the country.

"I was really surprised to win the award but my attendance has been good. I hate being late for anything and like to be punctual - the only way to do that is get up early."

Craig's dad, Raymond, suffers from a muscular disorder and his mum, Sharon, has lupus.

"They don't like people fussing over them and I have to force them to sit down to give them a break," he said.

In September, Craig will return to the new £35m college to study a BTEC National Diploma in E-Media.

Already designated a Centre of Vocational Excellence, the media centre will boast the latest industry standard technology including Apple iMacs, Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop and stop motion animation equipment.

Tutor Mike Jaques said: "The course will be ideal for Craig as he hopes to work in animation one day, and it has all the transferable elements he will need to succeed in the industry."