A RECORD number of nominations have been received for this year's Dudley Council Mayor's Civic Awards.

This year the council have received more than 80 nominations for the awards which recognise unsung heroes in the community- who give up their time to help others.

In the fifth anniversary of the ceremony a record number of nominations have flooded in and the panel of judges will now have to read each one and make a decision on the winners and runners up in each category.

The panel of judges consists of the Mayor of Dudley cllr David Stanley, council leader David Caunt, Dudley's Queen of Culture Pat Wakelam, cabinet member for leisure and culture Charles Fraser-Macnamara, cabinet member for children's services, Liz Walker and the Bishop of Dudley, Rev David Bishop.

There are four categories in which people could get nominated including the Duncan Edwards for sport, Cedric Hardwicke for, arts, Frank Foley for community spirit and Thomas Attwood for education.

The Mayor will also present a new trophy called the Mayor's Award, he will chose one person who he feels has stood out to him on his civic engagements during his year in office.

Cllr David Stanley, Mayor of Dudley said: "We are delighted with the outstanding number of nominations we had received this year, which has been our biggest response so far.

"It goes to show that there are so many people who do amazing things across Dudley and it is these people who will be celebrating at this year's awards."

The winners and runners-up will be announced at an ceremony on Thursday March 6.