A Chippenham schoolgirl has scooped a top national accolade for young librarians.

Megan Urmston, who is in Year 10 at Abbeyfield School, was honoured at a special ceremony in London for the National Pupil Library Assistant Award.

Hosted by digital media learning company Pearson, the awards recognise the impact of the nominees' work at their respective schools.

Young library leader Megan was selected from eight others on the shortlist and was the third Abbeyfield student to make it through to the final.

“I was overjoyed when I heard I was a finalist for this award" said Megan. "I love volunteering in the library. I feel like this is a chance to the share the importance of libraries in my life”.

Megan wrote a letter to local MP Michelle Donelan on the Great School Libraries campaign, saying a good school library “enables highly skilled library staff to support student learning, attainment, information literacy, wellbeing and be just as key to the development of the student body as curriculum teaching staff and pastoral leaders”.

Barbara Band, chair of the PLAA Judging Panel, said: "Megan's nomination showed a love of reading together with an array of tasks carried out to support and promote her school library.

“It was clear that not only had she had a significant impact on the library but that working as a pupil library assistant, had also enabled her to develop valuable life skills too.”

Megan was nominated for this award by school librarian Gareth Evans, who said: “The reason that I nominated Megan for this award is that she has been a fantastic volunteer over the last four years in the lbrary; sharing her love for reading with her peers and the wider community.”

Megan’s nomination was supported by Alistair Jennings, her form tutor since Year 7.

“I am incredibly proud of Megan for pursuing her love of reading into her role in the library," he said.

Abbeyfield head teache Nick Norgrove added: “It is wonderful to see Megan get rewarded with such a prestigious award.

"Megan's hard work, dedication and commitment to this role along with her infectious smile deserves to be recognised. She, along with all the other assistants, with the support of Mr Evans, make the library a place that students want to engage with.

"We have a reputation on both a local and national level for leadership opportunities, which I am proud to see acknowledged and look forward to seeing Megan's achievements inspire younger pupils to continue in her footsteps."