"SHE has been an angel"- those are the words Lesley Phillips uses to describe her daughter Danielle, 14, both pictured, who has been nominated for the Daily Echo Carer of the Year Award, supported by Southampton Lions.

We are running the competition in conjunction with members of the Lions club who every year raise thousands of pounds to help deserving people across our communities.

Danielle is the latest carer to be nominated after the Southampton Young Carers' Project, a scheme that offers help and support to young carers, nominated her.

The Sholing Technology College pupil always helps to make sure her mum, who used to work as a telephone system programmer for B&Q, takes her medication and helps look after her 12-year-old brother, Samuel.

Most recently when Lesley, 38, was in hospital for 11 weeks, Danielle cooked her brother's tea and gave lots of emotional support to her mum.

Lesley, who said that she also receives enormous support from her motor mechanic husband David, 42, said: "It has been quite difficult for Danielle but she always understands when I am ill."

The couple are from Cecil Road, Southampton.