BRAVE Becky Houghton has picked up an award for helping others, despite suffering from diabetes.

Becky's caring nature and devotion to her family has won her a prize in the British Diabetic Association's Young Achievers Awards.

Becky, a pupil at Shadsworth Junior School, was diagnosed diabetic in 1996 and has to inject herself with insulin twice a day. The 11-year-old, of Oban Drive, Shadsworth, Blackburn, looks after her disabled mum and keeps a close eye on her grandmother Winnie Preston of Shadsworth, who is also diabetic.

Becky received a framed certificate, £300 cash, a T-shirt and a blood sugar monitor as her prize for the caring section in the category for 10 to 12 year-olds. The ceremony - part of Diabetes Awareness Week - was held in London, when Becky, mum Gillian and dad John stayed in a top hotel and visited Planet Hollywood.

They also met TV's Dr Hilary Jones, footballer Gary Mabbutt and Hollyoaks actress Tara Moran.

Mum Gillian, 37, who suffers from a bone-wasting disease in her leg, uses crutches and a wheelchair.

She said: "Becky is always concerned about me. She is the kind of child who worries about everybody apart from herself."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.