A YOUNG film-maker from Darwen scooped the award for Best Pop Video in a student film festival in Manchester.

At 15 years old, Richard Nicholson, a pupil at Darwen Moorland High School, was the only entrant under 18 in the category at the Exposures Festival.

But age was no barrier for the teenager who left the festival, held at the city's Cornerhouse Cinema, with a first prize.

He won the category with his music video for Manchester band Jackie O, which he was commissioned to do after the band saw one of his films at last year's festival.

The video will accompany the band's forthcoming single, 'Winter Wonderland'.

Richard also landed the runner-up spot in the animation category with his film 'Heroes', with which he was a short-listed finalist in the BBC Talent Animation competition.

He received his music video award from TV presenter Richard Jobson, the front man for former chart-topping band The Skids.

Richard's father Brian, a technician at Blackburn College media centre where the teenager completed a work placement, attended the ceremony with his wife Alison and other members of Blackburn College.

He said: "We are very, very proud. Rik has always wanted to be a film director and the support he has received from both school and college has been fantastic.

"The film festival attracted more than 200 entries."

Richard, of Belgrave Road, has also produced a music video for Blackburn band Tompaulin which earned him Best Animation Film at the Co-operative Young Film-Makers Festival at Bradford's National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in October.

He is hoping to make a 20-minute film with his friends and is hoping his success will stand him in good stead for a career in the film-making industry.