AN “INSPIRATIONAL” teen was handed a national citizen award by one of Britain's favourite dancers.

Former Pride of Swindon winner Phoebe Maddison was one of 24 youngsters recognised at the British Citizen Youth Awards.

Organisers of the Specsavers-sponsored awards called her an “inspiration to everyone living with diabetes” - with Britain's Got Talent dance star Ashley Banjo presenting the medals.

Phoebe, a 13-year-old from North Swindon, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was just four-years-old.

Since then, the Abbey Park School pupil has thrown herself in to raising funds to tackle the condition. She estimates that she has raised almost £10,000 for Diabetes UK and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Phoebe collected her medal at a special ceremony in the Houses of Parliament.

“I’m still really happy,” said a delighted Phoebe. “The medal is still with me.”

She was handed her award by Ashley Banjo, lead dancer of Britain’s Got Talent stars Diversity.

Fan Phoebe said: “It was absolutely incredible. I almost fainted – I mean, it’s Diversity! I walked up to him and he was so tall.

“Luckily, I didn’t have to give a speech, because I think I would have broken down.”

Ashley Banjo said: “These inspirational young people are making a difference and encouraging others to do the same.”

Phoebe took her parents and brother along to the star-studded Houses of Parliament ceremony.

But the corridors of power were no shock to Phoebe, who recently met Prime Minister – fellow diabetes sufferer Theresa May – at a special reception in Diabetes UK’s London headquarters.

After taking the day off school, Phoebe took her medal in the next day to show her headteacher: “He was over the moon with it.”

Proud mum Michelle, 45, said of her daughter: “She’s just brilliant. She’s courageous with what she deals with and she’s supportive of everybody with diabetes.”

Singer Phoebe, who has previously won a BAFTA for a film about diabetes and has sung every year at a Bournemouth diabetes ball, is almost ready to release a charity single about the condition she’s faced daily since the age of four.

She hopes the song, I’m the Hero, will be out in time for Christmas.

And Phoebe says she has more plans in her head: “Sometimes I can’t sleep because I’m so excited about something.”