THE final countdown is underway to the deadline for nominations for prestigious Dudley borough awards.

The Dudley volunteer of the year awards will be handed out in October and people have until Friday August 22 to put forward a volunteer or voluntary group for a gong.

Individual volunteers or voluntary groups can be put forward as long as they do not include any paid staff members.

Eileen Fielding of Dudley Council for Voluntary Service said there had already been a good number of nomination forms received but more are welcome.

She added: “The award categories cover a variety of volunteering areas, including; community action, children and families, health and wellbeing, sport, the environment and community safety. There is also a young volunteer of the year under the age of 25 and a special award for long service in volunteering.

“I’m encouraging anyone who has been touched by the voluntary work of an individual or group to nominate them as soon as possible.”

Nomination forms can be picked up from borough libraries and Dudley Council Plus or downloaded from www.dudleycvs.org.uk, for more information call Dudley CVS on 01384 573381.