VOLUNTEERS who provide support for coronary care patients in Darlington were double winners at an awards ceremony.

Darlington Coronary Support Group was honoured at the town's first Volunteering Awards, along with six other teams of local volunteers.

Scores of people attended the ceremony at the King's Head Hotel, Priestgate, Darlington, which was hosted by Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo.

He said: "I for one feel very proud and lucky to live in a town where the spirit of volunteering is so clearly alive.

"I sincerely hope this event will go from strength to strength."

The awards were organised by Darlington Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) and Volunteer Bureau to celebrate projects carried out by teams of volunteers.

The Volunteer Bureau has about 12,000 volunteers on its database, working for 400 organisations.

Co-ordinator Audrey Applegarth said: "A lot of volunteers don't want to be singled out and the idea with these awards was to bring them recognition as part of a team."

Winners and nominees were:

Work which makes a difference in the community (sponsored by Northumbrian Water) - Winner: Nightstop - A Home for the Night. Shortlisted: Cockerton and Branksome Living Enterprise (Cable) - The Cable Courier; Darlington and District Talking Newspapers - weekly tape service; Clifton Centre Community Association volunteers; Friends of the Memorial Hospital - volunteer car service; Red Hall Partnership - positive changes on the estate.

Work which improves the quality of life for the people it is designed to benefit (sponsored by The Northern Echo) - Winner: Darlington Coronary Support Group. Shortlisted: Darlington and District Talking Newspapers; Darlington Mind - counselling service; County Durham Autistic Support Group - supporting people affected by autism; Friends of North Lodge Park - Crowding Out Crime; Darlington and District Scout Association - Scouting in Darlington.

Work which demonstrates the benefits of partnership working (sponsored by Darlington CVS and Volunteer Bureau) - Winner: Age Concern Darlington - IT-Gen. Shortlisted: Cable; County Durham Autistic Support Group; Darlington Mind; Darlington Borough Council Libraries and Community Learning/WRVS - home reader service; Darlington YMCA Millennium Volunteers - Dash play scheme; First Stop Darlington volunteers; Victim Support Darlington - Asda drop-in centre.

Work which encourages people to develop a healthy lifestyle (sponsored by Darlington Primary Care Trust) - Winner: Darlington Coronary Support Group. Shortlisted: Darlington Doorstep Walks in association with the primary care trust - walk leaders; Darlington Mind; Ramblers' Association.

Work which engages people in the visual or performing arts for community benefit (sponsored by Darlington Partnership) - Winner: Darlington Community Carnival. Shortlisted: Darlington Media group - open access facilities and education programme; Darlington Operative Society - audio describing for the visually impaired; Darlington Orchestra; Sure Start parents' group - The Witch Who Stole Christmas; Darlington Choral Society - annual programme.

Work which promotes learning and development of new skills (sponsored by the Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley) - Winner: Workers' Educational Support Group - autumn and winter programmes. Shortlisted: Age Concern Darlington - IT-Gen; Darlington Advanced Motorists - Skill for Life courses; Darlington Community Carnival; Darlington Media Group; Mencap Support Group - One Thing Worth Doing.

Work which promotes social integration (sponsored by connexions Tees Valley) - Winner: First Stop Darlington. Shortlisted: Age Concern Darlington - lunch clubs, Bradbury House pop-in; IT-Gen; Friends of North Lodge Park; Mencap Support Group; Nightstop.

Work which promotes economic independence or regeneration within a community (sponsored by SureStart Darlington) - Winner: Cable. Shortlisted: Christians Against Poverty - debt counselling service; Re-specs North East - Re-specs and Harry's clinic.