WEE County teen Ryan Kellock was left speechless when he heard he was Clackmannanshire's Young Citizen of the Year for 2016.

He was recognised for his voluntary work and presented with the accolade during an awards ceremony held at Kilncraigs in Alloa.

He said: "I couldn't believe it if I'm honest – I was speechless and didn't really know how to react.

"I feel very privileged to be named Young Citizen of the Year for the Wee County – even to be a nominee is such an honour.”

The annual awards ceremony is held to mark the dedication of local people and all they do to improve life in Clackmannanshire.

There are two categories: Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year.

While the first celebrates champions within the county, the second highlights an inspirational person under 25 who has been selfless or enriched the lives of others.

Ryan, 15, was awarded due to the spare time he gives up in order to make a difference in the community.

He helps with a number of sporting activities, including Easter and summer programmes, runs three football teams for S2-4 pupils and a lunchtime club for ASN pupils and volunteers for school activities including charity fundraising and careers events.

The Alva Academy pupil became involved in voluntary work after his PE teacher, Eilidh Abernethy, suggested a sports leader course last April.

He said: "After I completed the course I started volunteering with Clackmannanshire Sport Development's Easter camps, summer camps and most of their events.

"I would like to thank Miss Abernethy for telling me to do the sports leader course and Active Clacks for giving me the opportunity to volunteer."

He has an ambition to be a PE teacher and reckons voluntary work gives him the opportunity to build on, and develop, his skills.

He added: "I'd like to say a few thank yous, not just to people who have nominated me, but I would like to thank my headteacher Sharee MacKerron for the nomination; the full of Clackmannanshire's Sports Development Team and the Alva Academy PE department for giving me the opportunities to volunteer and, last of all, my parents for taking me to and from events that I volunteered at."