THE son of a sight-saving eye surgeon from Inverclyde has spoken about his father's inspirational international aid work as they search for the first winner of a new award in his name.

Gourock Rotary Club has joined forces with much-loved medic Dr Sadhu Gupta's family to recognise his life time of achievement.

Together they have created a Young Citizen of the Year award to inspire an new generation of philanthropists, opening it up to the public for nominations.

Entrepreneur Puneet Gupta, who will be on the judging panel, says his father's devotion to people in the poorest parts of the world, has inspired him his whole life.

Puneet, who runs Greenock global export firm PG Paper with wife Poonam, said: "Through this new award we are looking to recognise inspirational young people.

"To witness what ,my dad has done for people for 40 years encouraged us to set up charities and devote our lives to help other people as well.

"He is such an inspiration to us all.

"We wanted to recognise this by supporting young people in his honour."

During his career Dr Gupta MBE, a committed Rotarian, travelled the world visiting Ethiopia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Myanmar, setting up special camps to treat eye conditions.

In each place he carried out surgery which would give people the chance to see again.

Dr Gupta first arrived in Inverclyde with his wife Pushpa, a paediatrician, in 1981 after leaving India seven years previously for Belfast.

He would spend the rest of his career working at Inverclyde Royal Hospital while also carrying out his missionary work across the globe.

The family settled first in Greenock and then Kilmacolm with sons Sanjay - now in orthopaedics at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital - and youngest Puneet.

Dr Gupta is thrilled to be recognised through the new award and hopes plenty of nominations will be made.

The 78-year-old said: "It is a wonderful honour.

"I am very proud of all we achieved with the eye camps."

His son Puneet will be joined on the judging panel by Provost Drew McKenzie, Inverclyde Council's head of education Michael Roach and Old Gourock & Ashton Church minister Reverend David Burt.

The Young Citizen Award is part of the Gourock Rotary Youth Awards, which is making its full comeback this year following the disruption of the Covid pandemic, with a presentation night at Clydeview Academy.

The school's depute head Ross McFadzean said: "We are delighted to once again be a part of these awards recognising young people from across Inverclyde."

As well as the Dr Gupta award there will be prizes for a young musician, photographer, artist and film-maker.

Nominations for Young Citizen of the Year are open to people aged nine to 24 and they close on September 30.

For an application form email normanpettigrew@gmail.com