THREE judges have sifted through all the fantastic nominations of unsung heroes as part of our Pride of Comet Country Awards. Stuart McCreery, Archant Herts and Cambs MD, Steve Hollingsworth from North Hertfordshire College and Laura Gibbery from Stevena

THREE judges have sifted through all the fantastic nominations of unsung heroes as part of our Pride of Comet Country Awards.

Stuart McCreery, Archant Herts and Cambs MD, Steve Hollingsworth from North Hertfordshire College and Laura Gibbery from Stevenage Golf Centre met at The Comet offices on Monday to choose the winners.

The Pride of Comet Country winners are:

Role Model of the Year - Mary George

Charity Champion - Andy Nation

Carer of the Year - Diana and Gordon Tough

Great and Green - Lonsdale School, Stevenage

Valiant Volunteer - Yvonne Limbrick

Parent in a Million - Tom Whitby

Young Achiever - Richard Porteous

Mary George was praised for her work as head of nursing at Lister, Andy Nation was named charity champion for swimming part of the Thames, Diana Fowler and Gordon Tough won Carer of the Year for their work offering respite care to disabled children and young people.

Yvonne Limbrick was named Valiant Volunteer for her work with the Hitchin British Schools Museum and Tom Whitby won the Parent in a Million title.

Lonsdale School in Webb Rise, Stevenage, picked up Great and Green for their eco school project and Richard Porteous has been named Young Achiever for his work lobbying for a skateboard park in Letchworth GC.

The judges also singled out Hitchin teenager Joe Males for special praise for his remarkable attitude since he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia in January.

We will feature the winners' stories in more detail following our Pride of Comet Country Award ceremony later in the month.