A CHEERLEADING ex-pupil of St Laurence School, Bradford on Avon, has been given an award for her services to the community by the town's Women's Institute group.

Annette-Gabriele Purshouse, 18, was presented with the silver salver for the WI Diamond Jubilee Award last Wednesday at the group's annual meeting at the Wiltshire Music Centre.

Originally from Glasgow, Annette moved to Brad-ford in 2001 and joined St Laurence in the sixth form, where she set up the school cheerleading club.

She said: "I began the clubs for different year groups and choreographed routines for them and we did our first show in April 2002.

"The cheerleaders are called Blue Fish and have had a number of local street festivals.

"I also joined a Bradford Brownie pack as a young leader, generally helping to run meetings and plan trips." She is now studying dance at the University of Surrey, Guildford.

Her name was put forward for the award by the district commissioner for Girl Guiding Jennifer Hazell and Edwin Evans, her sixth form tutor at St Laurence.

WI secretary Diane Cox said: "We give this award each year to a young person who dedicates themselves to helping the community in some way.

"It is important for the WI to associate with the youth of the community and we are in the process of setting up links with tutor groups at St Laurence.

"In the past year our membership has grown and a lot of comparatively younger women have joined.

"I think this has a bit to do with the film Calendar Girls which has done a lot of good for the organisation but we are not planning to do our own version of the calendar!"