A RISING star - in every sense of the word - will hand out the awards at this year's Pride of Somerset Youth Awards on March 9.

Olympic trampolining hopeful and former youth awards winner Laura Gallagher will present the certificates and prize money to the winners at Somerset College's Conference Centre.

Laura, who won an award for her sporting achievements in 2008, has continued to excel in her field - in November last year she picked up a silver medal as part of the Great Britain quartet at the world championships in Birmingham.

Nominating someone for an award is easy - just tell us about the nominee - send us their full name, age, school/college (where appropriate), postal address, and contact phone number(s).

Write up to a maximum of 200 words detailing their accomplishments, to explain why they deserve a Pride of Somerset Youth Award. Include your own name and contact details.

Please notify the nominee (or their parents, where appropriate), that you have put them forward.

Send the details to alex.cameron@nqsw.co.uk or to Youth Awards, Somerset County Gazette, St James Street, Taunton, TA1 1JR.

For more details, and to nominate someone using an on-line entry form, click on somersetcountygazette.co.uk/youth_awards The awards are not split into categories - we just want to hear about young people who have shown that extra spirit to do something exceptional.

Nominees must be under the age of 20 on March 9, 2012 - the day the awards will be presented and they must also live in Somerset.

The deadline for nominations is midday on February 15, 2012.

Prizemoney of £2,000 comes from the sponsors - the Rotary Club of Taunton, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, health insurer WPA, and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.