A FORMER pupil of Worcester's Manor Park Special School has been awarded his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award - from the Duke himself.

Darren McClory, who is now aged 25 and suffers from severe learning difficulties, received the award from Prince Philip, at St James' Palace, in London.

Present at the ceremony were Darren's parents, of Athelstan Road, Worcester, and Caroline Muller, a former teacher at the St John's school, who supported Darren while he worked towards the award.

"We're very proud of him," said Mrs Muller, who was a nursery nurse at Manor Park Special School for 20 years and ran the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme for 10 years, until she retired in 1999.

She helped Darren, and others, in her own time.

"Most of it he actually did on his own and I just kept an eye to make sure everything was OK," she said, adding that it had been a "great pleasure" to accompany Darren and his parents to London.

"It was an honour to see him get the award - he was so chuffed."

Darren, who now attends Cherry Orchard Day Centre in Worcester, completed 60 hours' service for the award.

He helped out at the Worcester Gateway Club - an activities club for young people - and also at a city nursing home.

He worked as a volunteer at Worcester Cathedral, learnt how to play snooker and pool, and joined a keep-fit group.

He also completed an exploratory trek in Llanthony Valley, in the Black Mountains near Abergavenny, South Wales, with other young people from Manor Park School and Worcester Sixth Form College.