AN award-winning chemical engineering student is doubling up as a personal trainer to launch an outdoor bootcamp in aid of a mental health charity.

Fitness fanatic Cameron Mangan is hoping to reach out to people by running fresh air fitness classes at Wemyss Bay beach which will raise money for SAMH.

In between studying for his degree at Strathclyde University the teenager is also building up a reputation as a top physical trainer.

The nineteen-year-old told the Tele that while still at school he suffered from body image issues and started to over-exercise.

Top student Cameron, who won a prestigious award for achieving the best grade in his first year, said: "I experienced body image issues.

"I think a lot of people feel pressures when they are in high school.

"I started to over exercise and I lost too much weight.

"I received so much help from people and now I want to return the favour in some way.

"I decided to find out more about the work going on locally, contacted SAMH and decided to raise money for them."

The former St Columba's High School pupil says he recovered by learning how to balance exercise and eating healthily.

He then took his passion for fitness further by doing personal training.

Cameron now runs a number of classes and has a growing clientele he fits in around studying.

He added: "I love my chemical engineering course but I also wanted to develop as a personal trainer.

"Physical exercise has made me feel so much better about myself and I want to share it with other people.

"It has so many benefits, especially for mental health."

Cameron spends his spare time putting people through their paces to get them fit with classes and one on one training regimes.

The teenager lives in Inverkip with his parents Fiona and Paul and sister Zhara.

He will run a series of classes to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day, with all proceeds going to charity

The outdoor exercise classes will raise money for the SAMH Gateways project in Greenock with a suggested donation of £4.

Classes will be held on Wemyss Bay beach on Monday September 9, Wednesday 11 and Friday 13 at 6.30pm and then 7.30pm

To find out more or sign up visit Cameron Mangan - Personal Training on Facebook.

He also has a online sponsorship page where donatins can be made - www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cameron-mangan