A SCHOOLBOY who confesses he was once "cheeky and naughty to everyone" has turned a new leaf to win the head teacher's prize for effort at the Lakes School, Troutbeck Bridge.

Nigel Heap, 15, of Natland, was once a terror to teach and for his first three years at secondary school, teachers did not know what to do about his behaviour.

Suddenly, at the start of year 10, he returned from his summer break, a new student.

"I just decided to buck my ideas up and get a decent education," he said.

Nigel, who has muscular dystrophy, is a full-time student at the school and makes use of a scribe and IT facilities to help with his studies.

"I want to go into IT and be a web page designer.

I think it helped once I knew what I wanted to do once I left school," he said.

"Before I hated coming to school but now I get on fine with my teachers and I come in with a smile on my face."

But Nigel is not the only one who is smiling.

"My mum and dad think it is brilliant and they were really pleased when they found out about the prize and I want to say thanks to the staff who have been brilliant with me," he said.

Head teacher Julia Gilchrist said Nigel was an inspiration to other children.

"He has gone from being a boy who took delight in antagonising teachers and not working to somebody who is exemplary and always does his best."