Teenagers who saved their estate sports team from collapsing have been honoured with the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award.

Craig Marchant and Ashley Smith, both 16, were chosen for their outstanding contribution to Falmer High School and the Moulsecoomb community.

The two teenagers organise and run football and cricket teams for other youngsters on the Moulsecoomb estate.

However, their cricket team faced being banned from its league because the players did not have the proper sports equipment.

So the enterprising pair applied for a New Deal for Communities grant for protective clothing.

Their hard work and commitment inspired head teacher, Antony Edkins, Albion chief executive Martin Perry, Brighton University sports director Jerry Fairclough and assistant LEA director Rosalind Turner to recommend them for the award.

The honour, launched in April 2000, is designed to recognise the wider contribution secondary school pupils make to their schools and society and was presented to the teenagers yesterday.

Craig, of Bevendean Crescent, said: "It was a real shock getting the award in assembly this morning.

"Neither of us knew we had got it. We work together, but Ashley is mainly in charge of cricket and I look after the football."

Ashley, of Selba Drive, said: "We started our cricket team in 1998 and now there are about 14 of us in the team. There are about eight of us who play football and we have won some small league tournaments."

Head Mr Edkins said: "We are incredibly proud. It is a tremendous achievement for the school, but also for Ashley and Craig to have recognition for what they do.

"Martin Perry and myself were impressed with their maturity and the way they engaged young people on the Moulsecoomb estate in worthwhile activities.

"This is an award for unsung heroes and there are a lot of unsung heroes on the Moulsecoomb estate."