A TEENAGER from Dumbarton was selected to represent the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers at the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

Nicole McKechnie, aged 16, was one of only two of the youth volunteers throughout Scotland selected to attend the event.

She travelled to London with the other PSYV representatives and the night before the event met volunteer police cadets, other volunteer organisations and people affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.

The following morning she was briefed at an army barracks before being deployed at the palace, helping to line up guests before they were greeted by members of the royal family.

Nicole and her proud mum, Amanda McKechnie, visited Dumbarton Police Station two days later to meet Police Scotland’s divisional commander, Chief Superintendent Hazel Hendren, and Superintendent Brian Gibson to talk about the experience.

Nicole said: “This was an amazing experience and I am so grateful to PSYV and glad I joined back in 2015.

“I’ll never forget this once in a lifetime opportunity which was only made possible due to my volunteering within PSYV.”

Superintendent Brian Gibson said: “It was a pleasure to meet Nicole and hear all about this incredible experience.

“To be selected to represent PSYV at this extremely high profile event was a fantastic achievement and she is a great example to the other youth volunteers.

“I have no doubt the skills and experience Nicole gained assisting at the event will be invaluable to her.

“We are all very proud of her and look forward to working with Nicole and the rest of Police Scotland’s young volunteers.”