DO you know someone who is a real community hero? Someone who has made a real difference in the last couple of years? Now is your opportunity to thank them and to share what they have done with the rest of Craven.

Craven District Council was not able to run its annual community champions awards last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but they are back this year and there will surely be no shortage of nominations.

During the last almost two years so many people have gone above and beyond to help their communities, the judges will surely have a tough task ahead.

In times of emergency like we have lived through in the last months, people do so often step up, whether it’s to help out the older people in their street with shopping, to coordinate a food bank, to organise fundraising events, or to set up vaccination volunteers.

Then there is Craven’s two mountain rescue teams - the Cave Rescue Organisation and The Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association whose volunteer members finding themselves less busy than usual in the first months of the coronavirus lockdown volunteered to help out at the vaccination centres - keeping the car parks clear of snow, keeping an eye out for those with adverse reactions and even delivering the jabs - they surely deserve an award.

Its great to have the community champion awards back - there are several categories, be sure to put your own hero forward by January 11. Winners will be announced in early March at what very much promises to be a ‘glittering’ ceremony at The Coniston Hotel.