COUNTY Paralympic star Maria Lyle won a prestigious award at a ceremony in Edinburgh last Friday.

The sprint sensation, who won three medals at the Rio Games, was named Female Para-sport Personality of the Year at the NRS Scottish Sporting Awards in the Capital.

Lyle, who has cerebal palsy, left Dunbar Grammar School to attend Oaklands College in St Albans, and was unable to attend the awards ceremony.

She was, though, thrilled to have won at the inaugural awards, hosted by Nordoff Robbins Scotland – Scotland’s largest music therapy charity.

The 17-year-old (pictured above at Rio, by OnEdition) told Courier Sport: “It’s great to be nominated and recognised for what I do.

“I work hard and sacrifice lots so it’s great that people understand and appreciate that – being noticed with lots of great athletes is nice too.”

Donald MacLeod, chairman of Nordoff Robbins Scotland, hailed an “incredible evening” and added: “Sport and charity often go hand-in-hand, as does music, but to bring all three together for the first time like this felt like something truly special. A real landmark event for the charity and something we look forward to building on and continuing for years to come.”