An audiologist at Airedale Hospital has received special recognition in a national competition for the fifth year in a row.

Alan Walshaw, who cares for those with hearing difficulties, is the only person to be commended in the UK Audiologist of the Year award for five consecutive years.

Mr Walshaw, 46, a senior audiologist who has worked at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust for eight years, said: “I’m pretty lucky that people have taken the trouble to nominate me, as people are often quicker to say something negative.

“It also benefits the hospital by showing it in a positive light.

“We recently stopped promoting the competition within the hospital so there were no leaflets for patients to fill out as there have been in previous years.

“So to still be nominated is a very good thing.”

Run by hearing aid battery manufacturer Rayovac and hearing industry publishing group Audio Infos, the competition is judged independently by a panel of leading industry experts.

Votes for more than 1,000 nominees were cast by hard of hearing people across the UK, in order to reward professionals who go the extra mile to help their patients.