WINNERS of the Made in Bury Community Awards have been honoured.

Radcliffe-based Early Break, Whitefield woman Ann Bebbington, Dr Falmai Binns from Holcombe, and Bury man Nathan Hickey have emerged as community champions.

Each category winner received a framed certificate at the presentation held during the recent annual Bury Council meeting.

Council leader Mike Connolly said: "May I take this opportunity to congratulate all those who were nominated in this year's Made in Bury Community Awards and say a big thank you to all those who made these nominations.

"We were pleased to receive a wide range of nominations providing examples of community activity, volunteering and selflessness happening on a daily basis across Bury. They really do represent everything about our borough that makes it a great place to live."

The Made in Bury "Young Persons' Group" award went to Early Break, a charity which engages with a wide range of children, young people and their families. It is a confidential service which offers free counselling, treatment, information and support about drug and alcohol use for young people. During the past 21 years, Early Break has worked with more than 15,000 young people and their families, providing support with many of the issues that can lead to substance misuse.

The "Outstanding Contribution to aTownship" award was lifted by Dr Falmai Binns, chairman of the Bury Rural Inequalities Forum who has campaigned and succeeded in obtaining high speed broadband for Nangreaves village.

Dr Binns is working hard to bring this service to Affetside, negotiating with British Telecom, Transport for Greater Manchester, Bury North MP David Nuttall and others responsible for broadband.

She has also spearheaded a health giving series of 14 walks that connect the northern rural villages of Bury and has campaigned for traffic calming measures in Affetside and a door to door transport service called Local Link for Holcombe and Affetside.

Mr Nathan Hickey has won the "Good Neighbour" category, having moved into his neighbourhood two years ago. During home renovations, he was very conscious not to disturb his neighbours, and offers to cut their grass and share his tools. He has also been a carer for his father, who suffers from dementia, offering respite to other family members.

The "Volunteer of the Year" accolade went to Ann Bebbington. More than 20 years ago, she was involved in the implementation of a system which allowed volunteers to open Peel Tower to raise much-needed funds for her local youth group.

Ann worked with the council's parks and countryside department on the running and health and safety aspects of the tower, formulating a booking system for volunteers and other fundraising organisations in using the tower.

Ann still makes herself available to establish new volunteers and still contributes to a vital fundraising service for her youth club and local community in Whitefield