A TEENAGE opera singer from Crawshawbooth will collect a coveted prize for her charity efforts this weekend.

Grace O’Malley, 15, has been named BBC Rotary Young Citizen of the Year and will be honoured at an awards ceremony in Harrogate on Saturday.

The Alder Grange Community and Technology School pupil has raised more than £50,000 for charity since she took up singing aged six.

She was nominated for the BBC award by the Royal British Legion in Burnley and Padiham, where she is an honorary member.

Miss O’Malley, of Crawshaw Drive, said: “I am so proud and thankful to the RBL for nominating me.

“It has taken me by surprise and I am really grateful.

“I want to carry on singing and raising money for charity. I love doing both and it’s great to help people who are less fortunate.

“Alder Grange have been really supportive and I have a lot to thank them for.

“I love all kinds of music as well as opera and I would like to go on to study music.”

David Hampson, head of Alder Grange School, said: “We are so proud of what Grace had achieved at such a young age.

“She’s a very sweet and unassuming girl who always gives of her best and she has a talent far beyond her years.”