A STUDENT has won a prestigious national award after her self-inspired project managed to raise more than £1,000 for her school.

Caroline Lamb, 16, of Settlebeck High, Sedbergh, received the Princess of Wales Award after being nominated by her teachers.

The award recognises outstanding contributions made by young people towards their school, community or family, and the winners receive a special certificate, trophy, newsletter and special access to the prize holders section of the website.

Miss Lamb was nominated after she wrote the script of Sweeney Todd during a year nine English lesson and gave it to her music teachers who decided that it was good enough for the school to perform.

After volunteering to play the main role as Mrs Miggins, the pie shop lady, Miss Lamb also designed the whole set, posters and programmes and produced the play, which managed to raise the money for the school's music department.

Settlebeck High head teacher Dave Smith paid tribute to her hard work and organisational skills.

"It was an astonishing achievement, I have been teaching for more than 30 years and I have never come across that sort of achievement before.

"We put it on as a school production but Caroline's hard work meant that we did not pay any royalties and kept all the money," he said.