A CAISTER teenager who hopes one day to command the village's independent lifeboat was honoured with a major award.Marcus Brown was a runner up in the May Gurney Norfolk Young People of the Year awards held on Sunday at a ceremony in Norwich.

A CAISTER teenager who hopes one day to command the village's independent lifeboat was honoured with a major award.

Marcus Brown was a runner up in the May Gurney Norfolk Young People of the Year awards held on Sunday at a ceremony in Norwich.

Marcus joined the junior crew of Caister Lifeboat soon after his family moved to the village five years ago and hopes one day to move out of the backroom to lead a rescue. The 15 year old has given up family holidays to fulfil his role attending weekly meetings and preparing equipment for the next callout. His aim is to become coxswain.

He was nominated for the award by his proud grandparents who were impressed by his hard work and dedication.

Marcus, of Honeymoon Loke, Caister, is sharing his runner-up prize of �100 with Caister lifeboat station.

A 16-year-old boy who maintains Dersingham's war memorial was the �1,000 winner of the awards.

The Norfolk YOPEY awards were handed out alongside YOPEYs for Suffolk young people as �4,000 worth of prizes were given to young people who are positive role models and give to others.

Young People of the Year was started in Hertfordshire to counteract the bad image inflicted on the younger generation by the anti-social antics of a few. Norfolk and Suffolk are the eighth and ninth counties to hold YOPEYs.

The movement is endorsed by the leaders of both main political parties.