A record number of nominations have been received for this year’s Mayor’s Civic Awards.

Nominations have closed for this year’s awards and judges are now working through over 100 entries received to decide the winners and runners-up.

There are four categories all named after borough greats – the Duncan Edwards award for sport, the Cedric Hardwicke award for arts, the Frank Foley award for community spirit and the Thomas Attwood award for education.

Councillor Ray Burston, Mayor of Dudley, said: “We have had a tremendous response to this year’s awards and it is going to be very difficult deciding the winners.

“It just goes to show we have some amazing people in this borough who go above and beyond what is expected to create thriving communities. They should all be very proud.”

People were able to vote online, by post or by DigiTV – the digital television service.

The winner and one runner-up in each category will be announced in early March.

They will be presented with their prize – a trophy and a certificate by the Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Ray Burston, at a civic ceremony on March 16.

The fifth award is the Mayor’s award and is the only one where the winner will be decided by the public. The borough’s first citizen has shortlisted four people who have stood out to him on his civic engagements this year.

The public will then have the chance to vote online for the winner later this month(FEB). Nominations cannot be put forward for this particular award. A judging panel will decide the winners of the other four categories.