Rugby's Katy Mclean is named BBC North East Sports Personality of the Year

Mclean, from South Shields - who plays for Darlington Mowden Park - took the title for captaining England to World Cup victory in 2014.

The BBC North East Sports Awards, held at the Forum Theatre, Billingham, celebrate the achievements of the region's sporting stars following an amzing year with the Sochi Winter Olympics, World Cup and Commonwealth Games.

Other winners include the Sunderland Ladies FC who scooped the title of BBC North East Team of the Year, Middlesbrough-based Paralympian Wondiye Fikre Indelbu for providing the year’s best Sporting Inspiration for supporting and volunteering at Park Runs and "Teesside Tornado" Richard Kilty awarded Performance of the Year for athletics. 

Middlesbrough's Jade Jones, the Paralympic athlete, was presented with the Disabled Sports award following her tremendous performances at the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships.

Fabulous Flournoy, coach and player for the Newcastle Eagles, received the Jackie Milburn Award, which honours the region’s sporting greats.

The ceremony was co-hosted by BBC Look North's Jeff Brown and Alistair Brownlee from BBC Tees.

Mr Brownlee said: "Congratulations to all who won awards this evening with so many notable sporting men and women from across the North-East and Cumbria.

"Katy Mclean, fly-half and Captain of England’s women’s rugby team, is a very deserving North-East Sports Personality of the Year after leading her team to a magnificent win over Canada at Stade Jean Bouin in Paris in August.

"Our region has a terrific sporting heritage, and a huge army of sports fans.  We’re delighted we could bring so many people together to share the memories of the past 12 months.”

In addition to the regional Awards, the night also saw Graeme Mark receiving the Unsung Hero Award, which honours those involved at the grassroots level of local sport. Graeme, from Brampton in Cumbria, has been involved in amateur rowing for over 40 years and his great contribution towards developing junior rowing and coaching crews at Talkin Tarn Amateur Rowing Club along with his dedication to running a small isolated club to the highest standard made him a worthy winner.

The winners

Sports Personality of the Year: Katy Mclean

Jackie Milburn Award: Fabulous Flournoy

Disabled Sports Award: Jade Jones

Junior Sports Award: Simone Abbley

Sporting Inspiration: Wondiye Fikre Indelbu

Team of the Year: Sunderland Ladies FC

Performance of the Year: Richard Kilty

Unsung Hero: Graeme Mark