NEWENT student Sam Windless has picked up a certificate after being nominated for the Gloucestershire Young Person of the Year Award.

Sam, 18, was one of two students from Hartpury College on the 28-name shortlist for the award, together with 19-year-old Amy Stanley, from Cheltenham.

Both are coming to the end of their final year studying for a National Diploma in Sport and Sam will go on to Loughborough University in September to take a degree in Sports Management.

He was nominated for the award for his voluntary work with the national Step into Sport programme.

Over six months, he put in 200 hours encouraging young people into sport, coaching with Ledbury Swifts U-9s' side, Hartpury primary and Milestones School.

"It was great to be thanked for the work we have done for the community and to be given a certificate," he said, "My mum was really proud."