Diana award for foster boy who helps deaf children

A fostered teenager has been hailed as "inspirational" after becoming an interpreter for deaf children at his school.

Blake Wright, 15, was among 70 young people to receive Diana Awards - in memory of the Princess of Wales - at a ceremony in Canary Wharf yesterday.

The annual Diana Awards were founded in 1999 as a "lasting legacy to Princess Diana's belief in the power of young people to change the world".

When Blake was fostered two years ago by the Brett family from Bexley he knew basic sign language. But he struck up a strong friendship with the family's deaf son, Sean, 14, and now the two are like brothers.

Blake's foster mother, Dee Brett, 48, said: "We are so proud of Blake. Before he came to us he knew a bit of sign language from primary school but since meeting Sean he has come on leaps and bounds.

"He went to Thomas Tallis secondary school in Greenwich and was able to talk to other children and helps out at its Deaf Support Centre."