A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy has been named as young citizen of honour in a Hampshire town.

Harvey Young was awarded the accolade by the borough council in Fareham for the way he has coped with his disabilities.

The youngster was among a number of residents presented with medals in a ceremony at Ferneham Hall by outgoing mayor Councillor Susan Bayford as Fareham’s Citizens of Honour.

This recognises people’s voluntary work within the community or them helping others.

Harvey, of St Tristan Close, Locks Heath was born with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.

Thanks to public support for the Help4Harvey campaign, he travelled to the USA, accompanied by his mother, to undergo a life changing operation, selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), to allow him to take his first steps.

The youngster is now learning to walk, which would not have been possible before.

The event also saw the appointment of a new Fareham mayor, Councillor David Norris, supported by the mayoress – his wife, Pamela.

Cllr Norris will support two charities, the Stubbington Ark animal rescue centre, in Fareham, and the Rowans Hospice, which improves the lives of people with cancer.