CAROLINE WEIR said she was honoured after being named as the north west of England’s women’s player of the year.

The Dunfermline-born star added to her growing collection of honours on Monday evening when she was chosen as the top player for 2017 at the Leesa Northwest Football Awards.

Hosted by the BBC’s Dan Walker in Manchester in front of more than 550 guests, the awards, now in their 10th year, recognised those who achieved footballing excellence both on and off the pitch during the 2016/2017 season in the men and women’s football leagues, from the National League through to the Premier League.

Liverpool Ladies midfielder Caroline, 22, shared the limelight with some of the area’s biggest stars, including Manchester City’s David Silva, who was named as Player of the Year.

After beginning her career with Hibernian – who plucked her from the Pitreavie pitches when she played for Elgin Star – she moved to Arsenal before joining the Merseysiders in January last year from Bristol Academy.

She has gone on to become a regular fixture for the Reds and finished the last campaign as their top scorer, while the club’s fans also voted her as their Player of the Year.

A remarkable year also included playing for Scotland at the European Championships in the Netherlands, which was the women’s team’s first-ever appearance at a major tournament, and scoring the winner in their maiden victory over Spain.

Weir, who said on social media that “it was especially nice having my dad there, my biggest supporter from day one”, beat off competition from Manchester City and England star Lucy Bronze, Everton Ladies defender Gabby George and Chester Ladies full back Jamie-Lee McDowell to pick up the award.

She told Liverpool’s website: “It is a real honour to have been named 2017 Women’s Player of the Year at the North West Football Awards.

“I would like to thank my team-mates with Liverpool Ladies and Scotland Women for helping me to win this award as, without them, winning individual awards such as this wouldn’t be possible.

“To beat off competition from Lucy, Gabby and Jamie-Lee, who all enjoyed fantastic seasons for their respective clubs, makes it extra special and highlights how much of a privilege it is to have won this award.”

It is another high point in what has been a superb 12 months for Pars fan Caroline, who was also named as Scotland’s Player of the Year in February after topping a fan poll, received the Sporting Breakthrough Award at the inaugural 2017 Nordoff Robbins Scotland (NRS) Scottish Sporting Awards and was shortlisted for the PFA Players’ Player and Young Player of the Year awards.

The Northwest Football Awards’ Laura Wolfe added: “We are proud to honour the dedicated, hard-working, talented and inspirational people from our great football clubs and those businesses that support them. We wish to congratulate all our finalists and winners.”