WEST Somerset teenager Anthony Knight is to receive a national Rotary award for his support of UNICEF, the largest international charity helping children in conflict zones around the world.

Anthony, aged 17, who lives in Minehead and attends Taunton School, has been giving violin recitals across West Somerset and Europe for the past 15 months to raise funds for the charity.

He aims to have raised more than £20,000 from a total of 100 performances, many of which have been in major European cities during school holidays.

Now, Anthony is to receive Rotary’s national young citizen award at a presentation in St Benedict’s School, in Alcester, Warwickshire, on April 20.

He was nominated by Taunton Rotary Club’s Alan Reeve, with a reference from his school housemaster Philip Edwards.

The awards were launched in 2007 by Kevin Bakhurst, then-controller of BBC News24, and Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, to overcome the negative stereotypes of youngsters which so often dominated headlines, celebrating ‘amazing achievements’ of inspirational young people across Great Britain and Ireland.

They recognise under-25s, either individually or as a group, who have demonstrated their commitment to citizenship and responsibility, through working in their communities for the benefit of others.

Anthony said: “It is such an incredible honour to receive a Rotary Young Citizen Award.

“I hope my story will inspire other young people to use their talents to make the world a better place.”

Anybody who wants to sponsor Anthony can find his online funding page here.