KEIGHLEY teenager Leah Moorby has received a prestigious national award before she bids for glory in the World Taekwondo Junior Championships next week.

The 17-year-old was voted OCS Young Sportsperson of the Year at a glittering City Hall ceremony in London hosted by BBC Sport commentator Gabby Logan.

Former winners of the award include gymnasts Louis Smith and Beth Tweddle, while 13 former finalists took part in the Rio Olympics and Paralympics and brought back eight medals, including four golds.

Having won the North regional prize, Leah was then selected from 12 finalists for the overall award and received the trophy from Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu.

It should provide the Oakbank student with a big boost as she aims to better the world junior bronze medal she won in Taiwan two years ago next week.

Leah heads to Vancouver with the Great Britain squad this weekend and will compete in the -63kg category on Saturday, November 19.

At age 14, the Team Ultimate star was the youngest GB team member when winning bronze in 2014. She has been British Junior champion for the past four years and also won the British Senior Championship in September.

Her dad Gary - the former Cougars head coach - said: "The OCS Awards evening was a great experience as it recognised the efforts of all the youngsters involved who each received a medal for their achievements.

"Para athletes were also represented which was great to see. Leah did really well to become overall winner in the midst of such talented company."

In partnership with SportsAid, since the awards began in 1998, OCS (Outsourced Client Solutions) has made sports bursaries to nearly 250 young people, including Leah.

Gary added: "Hopefully this will give her a major boost going into her second World Championships.

"The best young players in the world will be there and that includes Leah of course, who is current British number one at -63kg weight.

"She has worked extremely hard this year to improve her overall game so hopefully she can have a successful championships.

"We would like to thank Sportsaid and funding provider the OCS Group for supporting Leah along with local company Airedale Chemicals. It's not easy as a self-funded athlete and without financial support life at this level it would be very difficult to compete."

Leah credited her dad as probably the most influential person in her life because he pushes her hard to do her best and takes her to training and competitions.

She also paid tribute to her coach, former Barcelona Olympian and multiple British Taekwondo champion Kathy Hook, as being key to her success.

Leah said: "I am excited to put everything I have been working on in training and recent competitions into good use to hopefully produce the best result possible. I would like to thank my family, coaches Kathy Hook and Paul Royston, sponsors and school for helping me get to World Championship level."