FOR true courage, 17-year-old Jonathan Hardy is hard to beat.

The Margate teenager has been nominated for a Fighting Spirit Award in recognition of his hard-won battle with social services and his own family.

He suffers from cystic fibrosis, and aged just 14 found himself embroiled in a fight with social services to have himself and his nine-year-old brother, fellow CF sufferer Rob, taken away from their family. A third brother, Wayne, died from CF aged 17.

He said: "Being at home with my parents was tough. I ended up medicating all three of us and when I was in hospital for six months my mum didn't even visit me, at least not more than once a fortnight."

While Jonathan and his brother Rob were in Watford hospital he took a stand and refused to be sent home to his family. He was backed by hospital staff and his education specialist, but social services were not convinced.

He added: "We were there for six months while this was going on and they were trying to find us a foster placement. I rang up the charity Voice of the Child and they helped fight my case."

He has since found a new life in Thanet with foster parents Ann and Barry Wells.

"It has been great, I love it here. Leaving was the best decision I made in my life. I've got everything I could possibly want. Ann and Barry have really made us part of the family.

"I'm really proud to be nominated for an award because it shows that someone recognises my achievements."

The Cystic Fibrosis awards, including the Fighting Spirit award, are on Thursday, May 31, at the Hilton Metropole in London.