A TALENTED teenager who has devoted hundreds of hours of her own time to mentoring other young people has been named as Fairlie's Young Citizen of the Year.

Jada Kane was given the prestigious honour at an awards ceremony staged during the village's recent traditional tree lighting ceremony.

The 17-year-old volunteers in the ‘peer-assisted learning’ scheme at Largs Academy, helping pupils studying higher chemistry pass their exams.

She is is also part of the school's sports leadership programme, where she works to deliver a variety of sessions for her peers and local primary seven pupils, as well as also running a lunchtime dodgeball club.

The remarkable young woman's efforts in the community don't end there however, and during school holidays she has assisted a local registered dog walker and worked as a manual labourer helping out a local company.

The keen animal lover has been riding ponies since the age of six and currently has two horses, which she looks after daily.

Jada is a member of Beith Young Farmers, participating in a wide range of activities, and hopes her love of all things equine will one day propel her to an appearance at the Horse of the Year Show.

She has also helped Fairlie Community Association last year and this, accompanying Santa on his visits around the village in December.

A former Fairlie Primary School pupil, Jada is now in her sixth year, studying for her Advanced Highers after gaining excellent passes in her National 5s and Highers.

Her ambition is to attend university to study as a pharmacist, hopefully moving into research.

She recently did a work experience placement at Lloyd’s Pharmacy in West Kilbride, strengthening her ambition to pursue a career in this field.

Award organiser Ann Tyler said: "Jada is an outgoing, energetic, friendly and very talented individual who delights in sharing her skills and talents by helping others and caring for her beloved horses.

"Everyone who came along to the lighting up ceremony considered her a worth winner.

"I would also like to take this chance to say a special thanks to the pupils from Fairlie Primary who provided entertainment, and Brian Kane, Mia Liney and Shaun Roddie for switching on the lights."