A 22-YEAR-OLD former soldier who set up a charity to help a town torn by civil war was awarded an MBE in the Queen's birthday honours.

Lance Corporal Aly-Joy Haworth, from Great Harwood, said she was "shocked and amazed" after being nominated by her army bosses following her humanitarian work which started when she was an army paramedic in Sierra Leone.

She was deployed to the malnutrition ward at Magbenteh Community Hospital in Makeni, working all hours to treat her patients.

Aly-Joy later set up a charity, the Friends of Magbenteh Hospital, and worked to train medics in the Sierra Leone army. She was serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps in an international medical team helping to rebuild the shattered country following years of destructive civil war.

Aly-Joy has now left the Army so she can follow her dream of training to be a civilian paramedic.

In this country you cannot become a paramedic until the age of 21, so Aly-Joy had gone into the forces to get experience as a paramedic from a younger age.

In the meantime while she trains, she will help her family run the Tavern pub in Church Street, Great Harwood.

She said: "It was a big surprise to hear that I have been awarded an MBE.

"It was very hard work in Sierra Leone. The conditions were absolutely appalling. The cots were old and shot up and there would be three children sleeping in each bed, with families crowding around them. The stink was overwhelming.

"I have so much admiration for the staff. They go through hell to try to save the kids."

Mum Stephanie said: "We are all so proud of her and it is great that her hard work has been recognised."

The Friends of Magbenteh Hospital charity has so far raised more than £3,000.

Aly-Joy added: "I was so shocked by conditions at the hospital and by raising money we can help to give child patients a better chance of survival.

"There are two types of malnutrition one where the kids waste away to nothing but skin and bones and the other where their tummies bloat up like footballs. It is heartbreaking to look at them.

"I want to raise as much money as possible for the malnutrition ward."