A UNIVERSITY Professor who grew-up in Leigh has received a prestigious award presented to him by His Majesty King Harald V of Norway.

Professor Robert Fenton, aged 35, has been awarded the Anders Jahre Prize for Young Scientists for his research on kidney function.

Professor Fenton, who is involved in molecular cell biology at the University of Aarhus in Denmark, will share the award which includes a sum of slightly over £40,000, with Professor Mikko Neimi of the University of Helsinki.

Born in Firs Maternity Home, Leigh as a boy he went to Bedford St Thomas's CE primary school then St Mary's RC High at Astley.

He gained his BSc at Newcastle University and his PhD at Manchester and has held appointments in England, the USA and Denmark.

Earlier this year Professor Fenton received and award for excellence from the American Physiological Society to add to an impressive list of achievements and awards since 2001.

He met his Irish wife, Dee, in the USA and they have a two year-old daughter Emily.

Professor Fenton, who has an elder sister, Helen, is the son of proud parents Margaret and Brian Fenton who live in Leigh.