TEENAGER Rob Dixon has been announced as a finalist in the Greater Manchester Police Young Citizen of the Year award - just days before his 18 birthday!

Rob, of The Drive, Prestwich, has been nominated jointly with Jane McGuirk (17) from Middleton as one of 10 finalists for their work with the Bury-based Jigsaw project.

The social group is part of Bury and District Advisory Committee and brings together disabled and non-disabled people for activities such days out, trips abroad or a simple chat.

In fact, the Stand College student is currently on an activities holiday in the French Pyrenees with the group but his father, Stephen, said that Rob was "delighted" with the nomination.

He said: "I am extremely proud of Rob. I do not think that he ever believed that he was a Young Citizen of the Year. He is just doing something that he likes and the fact that he was entered is a bonus. It is not something he did because he wanted to win."

Rob, a former Parrenthorn High School pupil, hopes to study diagnostic radiography at Bangor University.

"He got involved with Jigsaw two years ago through a counsellor at college and also helps out with a local Beavers group once or twice a week. He does a lot of work in the local community and has a part-time job at the Trafford Centre. He goes on outings with people and helps them with their wheelchairs and also goes down the the Seedfield Centre twice a week to meet the group."

Rob and Jane will each receive a £100 cheque as finalists, to be donated to the charity or community initiative of their choice, as well as a family pass for Granada Studios and a meal at Manchester's Portland Thistle Hotel. The winner will be announced at a gala presentation in Manchester in November. It is not the first time Prestwich has been in the spotlight for the GMR award. Katie Finney, of Hilton Lane, Prestwich, scooped the title in 1996 for her voluntary work.

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