A GREEN-FINGERED teacher from Bishopton is in line for a national award.

David Nicol, who teaches at the Good Shepherd Centre, is the only Scot to have been named as a finalist in the Royal Horticultural Society School Gardening Champion of the Year contest.

Mr Nicol, who has worked at the centre for vulnerable young people for six years, led a project to build a garden there.

The centre can already look forward to receiving garden-based prizes worth almost £1,000 from Mr Nicol reaching the final.

And, if he wins, the pupils will also be treated to a visit from a celebrity gardener.

Tom Laurie, education manager at the centre, who nominated Mr Nicol, said: “For most of these young people, a garden was something other people had or which existed only in the realm of television.

“David has now changed their perceptions completely and given them ownership of, and pride in, their own garden.

“He has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

“We now have young people preparing and consuming a healthy meal consisting of vegetables they have grown.”

The winner will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony in Surrey next month.