THE judging for this year’s Local Heroes Awards took place at The Northern Echo’s Priestgate head office yesterday.

Now in its 19th year, the Local Heroes Awards honours the stars of grassroots sport in the North-East and North Yorkshire, with the awards ceremony taking place at Wynyard Hall on Thursday, December 6.

Having received hundreds of nominations, the judges selected the ten category winners in the senior and junior sections as well as the overall Local Hero. The shortlisted entrants in each of the categories will be revealed in the Sport section of The Northern Echo on Saturday, October 10.

Last year’s Local Hero was Sedgefield swimming coach John Moore, and this year’s ceremony promises to be another uplifting and emotional affair.

Hannah Chapman, editor of The Northern Echo, said: “This is my first Local Heroes Awards as editor, and I feel extremely privileged to have been part of the team that selected this year’s winners. As ever, there are some amazing winners and some remarkable stories to be told.

“It’s great to be able to pay tribute to people who contribute so much to grassroots sport.

“For almost two decades, we’ve been championing the people who often get overlooked. It’s going to be another great night.”