A BURNLEY teenager has won a national award for her work with a project set up in the aftermath of the town's riots to bring together people from different communities.

Chelsea Wooller, 16, has been given the Princess Diana Memorial Award for Young People, for her work with Breaking Barriers in Burnley.

She got involved in the project, set up to look how young people could respond to the Clarke Report into the disturbances in Burnley, through her local youth club in Burnley Wood.

For the last 10 months Chelsea has been working with young people from all different faiths and from different areas in Burnley on ways to break down barriers that exist between them.

The group meets every Monday and has taken its work out to the community by doing presentations for other young people and for adults, and by organising activities during the school holidays.

Chelsea, who lives in Dall Street, said: "At the moment we are planning a scheme where members go into schools to do conflict solution work."

She added: "It has been good to meet new friends and learn about different cultures."

The Towneley High School pupil was nominated for the Princess Diana Memorial Award by Phil Glover, from the school's youth and community team.

He said: "The nomination was to recognise the tremendous work and commitment she has put into the Breaking Barriers in Burnley Project.

"Chelsea has put a lot of time and effort into the group and she continues to do so. She thoroughly deserves this award, which is one of only two given out in Lancashire."

Towneley head teacher Sally Cryer said Chelsea, who is deputy head girl at the school, was a worthy recipient of this prestigious award.

She said: "This is a national award it is very well deserved -- Chelsea she gives 100 per cent commitment both in school and outside. She has got involved in this project on her own and has taken quite a lead in it. It is young people like Chelsea who are going to make things better for Burnley in the future."