FLOOD relief heroes, charity champions, and selfless volunteers were among those honoured at the Made in Bury Community Awards.

The awards, which honour the borough's unsung heroes for their outstanding contributions in the community, were presented at Bury Council's annual meeting last month by the outgoing mayor, Cllr Stella Smith.

Many of this year's prizes were given to the brave and generous local residents who provided vital assistance in the aftermath of the devastating Boxing Day floods.

The Redvales Flood Relief team won the Exceptional Community Support award, thanks to the tireless work of Emily Owen, Imran Younis, Faisal Khasnoud, Yvonne Bagguley, Andrew Loynes, Shazad Hainer, Omar Farooq, and George Rimmer.

As well as helping to evacuate flood victims, they worked tirelessly over the Christmas period to clean up people's homes, and even bought a car for a 70-year-old cancer sufferer who lost his vehicle in the flood.

George, aged 13, was also named as one of the young people who won the Outstanding Community Contribution award, alongside Jigsaw volunteer Leah Hanlon, because of the strength of character and maturity beyond his years that he showed during the crisis.

Steve and Lucy Houghton-Burnett, who co-ordinated the flood relief centres in Radcliffe and Ramsbottom, also picked up the Exceptional Community Support award.

Colette Jones, of Parkside Close, Radcliffe, was one of four recipients of the Outstanding Contribution to a Township award, both for her efforts in supporting her community through the floods and as chairman of the Friends of Close Park group.

The other winners were Sheila Blackman, who manages a group of carers at the Gaddum Centre, Liz McDonald, who has helped transform the Elmhurst care home in Whitefield, and Ged McGee, chairman of Elton and Walshaw Junior Football Club.

There were also four winners in the Volunteer of the Year category, including Peter James-Robinson, who has spent almost two decades volunteering with a huge range of good causes in Bury and Radcliffe despite being confined to a wheelchair.

Geeta Sarin, who has set up a website for sexual abuse awareness and helped organisations including the Samaritans, Gary Dawson, who volunteers his time with Bolton Road TRA, Elms Community Centre and Day Care Services, and Elaine Valle-Jones, a volunteer in the Bury Dementia Cafes for over five years, were also winners.

The Good Neighbour prize went to Gwendoline Robinson, who worked as a carer until she was 65 and is still a lollipop lady, now aged 76, and brought up her three children alone after their father died of cancer.

Cllr Smith said: “This council values the work that voluntary, community and faith sector groups and volunteers do across our borough which help make Bury a good place to live, work and visit.

“These awards help us to recognise that, across our communities, individuals and groups continue to give their unpaid time and commitment to improve their local areas and the lives of others.

"During my time as mayor, I have been honoured to meet many of them and witness firsthand the type of work they do and the positive impact they have on the lives of others.

"We have been truly overwhelmed by the examples of community activity, giving, sharing and supporting that is happening on a daily basis across our borough, especially the hard work of community members who came together during the floods.”