A nine-year-old schoolgirl who helps her parents care for her disabled sister is the latest Bristol Evening Post Gold Star winner.

Lucy Tutton's six-year-old sister Sophie has Rett's syndrome, which means she has no independent mobility, and breathing abnormalities.

She cannot sit up or talk and has limited use of her hands.

So Lucy, who attends Filton Hill school, helps her parents Faith, 36, and Paul, 39, by feeding Sophie, playing with her and giving her oxygen.

She also helped raise money for the Jessie May Trust's Precious Time Appeal because nurses from the Kingswood charity help care for sister in the Filton family home.

The Evening Post Gold Star awards recognise people in the city who have done great things, whether selflessly putting others before themselves, demonstrating great courage in the face of adversity, or working tirelessly for charity.

Lucy won a national award last month when her teaching assistant Jayne Baxter nominated her for her efforts in helping her little sister. During her trip to London for the WellChild Children's Health awards the youngster met Prince Harry, patron of the charity.

She was particularly impressed by Strictly Come Dancing stars Ian Waite, who was sitting at the same table as the family for the awards, and presenter Chris Hollins, who showed her some quick-step moves.

Lucy described winning her Gold Star award as "brilliant".

She said: "I like to help my parents and my sister because I just like to do it.

"Sophie is as special as the whole wide world."

Mrs Tutton, said: "Lucy is just like another pair of hands really.

"It is brilliant that she is such a caring little girl.

"We are so very proud of her.

"We had come to the conclusion that every sibling is like Lucy because we see lots of different brothers and sisters through Jessie May and the children's hospice and think what she does is normal.

"It took her school to recognise that it is above and beyond what a regular nine-year-old does.

"We are so pleased she has had this chance to shine."

Bristol Evening Post deputy editor Rob Stokes said: "Lucy truly is a star.

"What makes her particularly special is that she helps her sister every day, every week and all through the year.

"She really is worthy Gold Star winner."

Justin Davies, managing director of First Bristol, Somerset & Avon, said: "Lucy sounds like a very special young lady who thoroughly deserves her Gold Star award.

"The maturity she has shown in helping her parents and her sister Sophie cope should be commended and rewarded.

"I'm delighted that she's been recognised by the WellChild Children's Health Awards, and hope that she'll be able to find a nice place to put both that award and the Gold Star one that we're giving her now."