YOUR favourite family read has launched a quest to reward the district’s unsung heroes in our inaugural Community Pride Awards.

We’ve teamed up with key local groups to honour selfless leading lights who have long gone beyond the call of duty to help others.

Our prestigious promotion invites readers to nominate good samaritan stalwarts who have touched the lives of others in one of eight key categories.

* Sporting Hero
* Champion Child
* Health Services Hero
* Unsung Hero
* Teacher of the Year
* Volunteer of the Year
* Community Project of the Year
* Emergency Services Hero

Readers then get a chance to vote for their first choice before worthy winners are rewarded at a September celebration ceremony hosted by top TV presenter Harry Gration.

Winners and runners-up in each category collect coveted glass trophies marking their remarkable feats.

Leading sponsors include Barclays and Selby District Council, while town councillors are providing the historic town hall venue and Buckles Catering Services are supplying buffet food.

District council chairman Coun Jude Thurlow said: “We’re delighted to be involved with Selby Times Community Pride Awards. It’s a fantastic event to reward the many unsung heroes whose sterling work often goes unrecognised.

Town mayor Coun Jennifer Shaw-Wright urged: “We invite residents to put forward nominations for the awards. There’s lots of people in the district who do work that’s really valuable to the community that no-one ever gets to know about. Selby Times Community Pride Awards are a really good chance for them to get deserved recognition for their efforts.

Selby Times editor Chris Page added: “Our paper has a proud heritage of serving the community for almost 150 years. Now we want to put something back by rewarding the many among us who deserve recognition.”

Be sure to order your copy of the Selby Times every week or check back here for future updates, profiled categories and entrants.

Click on the link below to submit a nomination. Be sure to include the full name, address and daytime telephone number of the person nominated, your full name, address and daytime telephone number plus the award category you're entering that person for together with the reason for putting their name forward.

Closing date is August 6 2008, with Selby Times readers then given the chance to vote for the winner and runner-up in each category (except Champion Child, where there's only a winner).

Submit your entry here