INSPIRING Greenock boxer Rhys McCole packed a punch as he made an appearance on BBC Breakfast.

The teenager, who has overcome several health issues on his road to success, was featured training at Greenock Boxing Club while his classmates at Notre Dame were also interviewed about him as they took part in the Beeb's annual school report event.

Rhys was in the spotlight as he was one of 12 finalists in this year's BBC Young Reporter Competition.

He was born with six disabilities and he's been boxing since he was 10.

He is thought to be the first competitive disabled boxer in the UK and is certainly the youngest.

As he told his remarkable story live on screen the deputy head boy was a natural, as he proved just as happy on TV as he is in the ring.

Rhys got the star quality treatment and was flown down to the studios in England and met BBC news reader Huw Edwards.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon later congratulated Rhys on Twitter, posting: "Well done, Rhys - so proud of you!"

The school's newly-formed news club had been taking part in the BBC School Report and the BBC were out filming in Greenock on Monday.

English teacher Anna Blyth said: "One of our team Ava Hughes and myself interviewed Rhys for the reports as we followed the crews."

Ms Blyth says Rhys - who won an award at the Tele's community champions gala last year - is a great role model for other pupils with his positive attitude and the way he has overcome challenges to excel in education and his sport.

Anna said: "One of the cleaners saw Rhys being interviewed and said 'I knew you were going to be famous!' which was picked up by the crew." The BBC project is just one of several assignments the Notre Dame Now news team will be working on.

Anna said: "It's part of a wider new project where pupils learn about becoming journalists."