A WHITEFIELD woman has been rewarded for her unstinting voluntary work.

Ann Bebbington emerged as one of four winners in the Made in Bury Community Awards who received framed certificates during a recent presentation at the annual Bury Council meeting.

She triumphed in the "Volunteer of the Year" category, having begun her volunteering more than 20 years ago during 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.

She still makes herself available to establish new volunteers, showing them the ropes in terms of opening and closing Peel Tower. For more than eight years, she has admitted the public and sold tickets on behalf of Bury Council, raising in excess of £10,500.

At the presentation, Cllr Iain Gartside said: "Ann also goes the extra mile to assist marriage proposals held at the tower. Not only is she contributing to a vital fundraising service to her youth club and local community in Whitefield, she is offering a valuable, reliable and important service to Bury Council.

"She is always very pleasant and helpful and anyone who meets her comments on how supportive and accommodating she is. On behalf of the council, please can I congratulate Ann on this award and thank her for the work she continues to do. She is a worthy winner of this award."

Other award winners were:

Young Persons' Group: Early Break

Outstanding Contribution to a Township: Dr Falmai Binns

Good Neighbour: Nathan Hickey