THE search is on to find Newport's most special people.

Mayor of Newport Paul Cockeram has launched the hunt after reading stories in the Argus about young achievers who have helped their community.

He said he was touched by stories including that of eight-year-old Joel Vassallo, of Lliswerry Park Drive who raised £188 to help give his best friend, nine-year-old Thomas Steer, who is in hospital awaiting a bone marrow transplant, a holiday of a lifetime.

And he said Tarik Lloyd Coombs, four, showed bravery and calmness when he raised the alarm as his diabetic mother was just minutes away from slipping into a potentially deadly coma.

He said: "I started seeing all these youngsters in the paper who were showing great initiative and thought it would be a good idea to get them recognised."

Councillor Cockeram has joined forces with the Argus to help recognise people who have done Newport proud.

He said: "Youngsters always get branded as trouble and there is a lot of bad press about people these days with ASBOs and I think it's a great idea to recognise how quick thinking and courageous they are."

The mayor is appealing to people with stories of people who have shown great initiative and have been courageous to help out a family member or the community in any way to get in touch with the Argus.

He added: "At the end of the year I would like to hold a celebration where all the stories we have chosen as particularly outstanding will be recognised and welcomed to a party. These youngsters make us proud of them."

If you would like to tell us your story, contact the newsdesk on 01633 777226.