A young dog lover who has battled illness and mental struggles has won Young Person of the Year at Crufts.

Seventeen-year-old Izzy King from Snodland was one of five finalists up for the prize this weekend.

Izzy was diagnosed with a vascular malformation tumour – a benign lesion which slowly grows over time – in 2020, and has been receiving treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital since.

The resulting physical and mental toll meant the teenager missed 60% of her school time.

Despite this Izzy passed all of her GCSEs and has gone on to study at A-level with the ultimate career goal to set up a canine photography studio.

In 2021, she also organised an online charity dog show to raise money for mental health charity MIND, where she raised around £2,100.

Her hard work did not go unnoticed as on Sunday she was awarded the accolade, decided by a public vote.

'She is a real inspiration to many other dog lovers around the UK, and a very well-deserved winner.'

Izzy said: “It is such an honour to win. The fact that this was voted for by the public is really nice, it makes me feel like I am supported by people after they have read my story.

“It was really scary when I was diagnosed with vascular malformation because everything was normal and then, all of a sudden, everything just went downhill.

"I am very proud to have completed my GCSEs, and I have been studying for my A-levels alongside my treatment."

Izzy received the Shaun McAlpine trophy which has been presented to the winner of the award for more than 35 years.

The trophy is named after the son of Ed and Cindy McAlpine, who died in a car accident at just 22 years old.

Crufts show manager, Vanessa McAlpine, said: “Congratulations to Izzy for winning this year’s YKC Young Person of the Year award.

"She is a real inspiration to many other dog lovers around the UK, and a very well-deserved winner.

“Well done to all of our finalists and to our other YKC members who were nominated this year.

"They truly deserve the recognition for all of their hard work, time and dedication that they put into helping the lives of dogs, and should be so proud of themselves.”

Along with the title, Izzy was also given a prize fund of around £750.

'It is such an honour to win. The fact that this was voted for by the public is really nice, it makes me feel like I am supported'

The awards didn't stop there for the 17-year-old as she also beat the competition at this year's Pawscars – a dog version of the 'Oscars' – to win Junior of the Year on March 8.

The event was held on the eve of Crufts at the Hilton Metropole in the NEC centre in Birmingham.