A Moorclose student nurse has been shortlisted for a national award.

Kirsty Rudd, 28, of Grasmere Avenue, is one of eight students running for the Student Nurse of the Year Learning Disabilities Award 2017.

Kirsty, who is due to qualify this year as a learning disability nurse at University Of Cumbria, said: "Even to be shortlisted from hundreds of applicants is a massive achievement. I feel completely humbled.

"I am passionate about working with people with learning disabilities to support them to receive the best care, to ensure they have the best quality of life."

Kirsty will be attending the Student Nursing Times Award ceremony in London on April 27, where she will find out if she is the winner.

She said it was thanks to her work with The Knights Of The Western Lakes she made the shortlist.

The fundraising group founded by her husband Steven in 2006 raises money for local causes.

Kirsty is part of the committee with Steven and friend Brian Hebson.

Last year, they managed to raise enough money to buy a static caravan at Manor House Park in Allonby, which is available for breaks for families in need.

Kirsty said: "Once I started university, I realised the need for respite services for families in Cumbria.

"I also attended a programme to learn about autism and I recognised the desperate need for people who have children with autism to have somewhere to have family time.

"We have been able to allow 16 families to have use of the caravan.

"The feedback we have received has been humbling. Some of the families with children that have autism said they never thought they would be able to have a family holiday, due to the differing needs of the children.

"We have been able to offer a safe home within Cumbria, so it is not far from their own homes if the child has not been able to cope with the change in the routine.

"The holiday home is available to everyone that has the need. Whether this be a poorly family member, a person that is grieving or even just a respite service."

Knights of the Western Lakes will hold an event on April 15 at Harbourside Bar in Workington to raise money for the upkeep of the caravan.

Tickets cost £5 and can be purchased at the Harbourside Bar or by contacting the group at knightsofthewesternlakes@aol.com or on the Facebook page Knights Of The Western Lakes.