A 19-YEAR-OLD app creator from Marshfield has won a £5,000 prize in a national competition.

Ronan Finnegan won first prize in the fundraising category of the annual TalkTalk Digital Heroes awards. The ceremony was held at the House of Commons by TalkTalk who are running the first UK scheme to recognise people who harness the internet to bring about positive social change.

Mr Finnegan, the company's new Fundraising Digital Hero, creates charitable iPhone apps that incorporate donating into everyday life. He was awarded the prize money at the ceremony and his work was showcased to politicians other key influencers in the world of technology.

After the awards, Mr Finnegan said: “I have lots of ideas for developing new apps that will raise money for good causes. This prize will help me to develop these ideas further.”

The teenager creates charitable iPhone apps that incorporate donating into our daily lives. His founded his company, orDonate, in October 2013 and its first app, WakeOrDonate, is an alarm clock app that creates encourages the user to donate when they press snooze.

Another app idea, GymOrDonate, charges users a donation fee if they miss their workout.

He visited Westminster recently with members of his family to collect the award.

Thornbury and Yate MP Steve Webb had encouraged people to vote for Mr Finnegan and attended the ceremony.

He said: “I was very impressed to meet Ronan and to hear about all that he has achieved at such a young age. I was delighted to be able to help by highlighting the online voting for these awards and, of course, cast my own vote for this very impressive young man.”

The TalkTalk Digital Heroes Awards have been rewarding heroes from all across the country for over six years. Nine category winners are selected by a public vote and the overall winners are selected by an esteemed panel of judges.