THERE are just days left to nominate someone who makes a difference in your community to win an award and £500 prize money.

Nominations for the Herefordshire Community Champions 2017 finishes next Wednesday.

Chairman of Herefordshire Council, Brian Wilcox, who has organised the awards in partnership with Cargill and the Hereford Times, is urging more people to nominate.

He said: "Don't sit back and think they won't stand a chance because they will.

"We want people who are trying to do something for their community in one way or another.

"There are still a lot of people out there who have not been nominated and there are prizes of £500.

"That money is not ring-fenced. It doesn't have to go to their own organisation."

There are five sections in the awards which were started last year to recognise volunteers in the community across Herefordshire.

The categories are Volunteer of the Year, Apprentice of the Year, Caring Champion, Sustainability Champion and Youth Champion.

People can nominate as many people as they want to and the three finalists from each category will be invited to an awards evening at Hereford Town Hall on Mach 30, which will include a meal.

The winner of each category will receive £500.

Seven-time Paralympic gold medallist Sascha Kindred will also be at the awards evening.

Cllr Wilcox said: "This is the Herefordshire championship awards night and there will be an international world champion and Olympic champion there and he is going to give a talk during the evening."

Nominations will be accepted until Wednesday, February 22.

Cllr Wilcox added: "We need more nominations, particularly apprenticeships and youth champions."

To submit nominations visit herefordshire.gov.uk/champions17. Paper nomination forms are also available from any of the market town councils’ offices or at the Town Hall and Plough Lane offices in Hereford.