A TEENAGE judo champion from Cam is one of a number of talented youngsters awarded for their sporting achievements at an awards ceremony.

James Hayes first became involved with judo when he was eight-years old and went along to the local Dursley Judo Club.

From that start James, who is now 16 has progressed to become one of the top judoists in his age group in the country, being a member of the England Talent Judo Squad for the last four years.

His accomplishments include winning a bronze medal at the 2013 British Championships as well as becoming the Welsh and Northern Ireland Champion in 2012.

For his sporting achievements, James was awarded the Gloucestershire Playing Fields Association's Honourable Company of Gloucestershire Award at its recent annual general meeting.

James’ mother, Donna Hayes, was at the event to collect his award for him.

The ceremony is an annual event which recognises the best young sporting talent in the county and was presented by Patrick Brooke, immediate past warden of The Honourable Company of Gloucestershire.

This year the awards were given to 11 highly talented nominees from which the judges had the difficult choice of picking four young sporting stars for an award.

The Gloucestershire Playing Field Association is a founded in 1926 to advise on and assist in the provision of adequate playing fields, playgrounds and equipment for the purpose of all games, sports and pastimes.

Over the last 80 years the association has helped over 1,500 organisations with advice and grants and today it is still active in helping its members.