Police have honoured a teenager who heroically pulled a friend from the rubble following a cave collapse in Bridgnorth which claimed the life of 16-year-old Aiden Brookes.

Philip West, 17, from Bridgnorth, was one of 16 young people last night given Good Citizen awards at a ceremony at The Lord Hill Hotel in Shrewsbury.

Philip was nominated for one of the awards by Shifnal police constables Philip Nock and Jessica Hindley following the tragedy on April 5 when Aiden, of Paulbrook Road, Bridgnorth, died after part of a cave at The Hermitage, Bridgnorth, collapsed on him when he was camping.

A West Mercia Police spokesman said: “He was nominated for having helped pull another friend from the cave who had also been struck by the falling rocks going to the aid of Aiden.”

Philip was one of four of last night’s 16 youngsters who will now go forward to the finals of the West Mercia Good Citizen of the Year competition to be held in October where nine other deserving recipients will be up against him for the title.

The other three finalists are Oliver Sharples, 14, nominated by Thomas Adams School, Wem; Ryan Marlow, 12, who attends Phoenix School, Dawley, and Emily Aries, 15, from Newport, who was nominated by her mother.