A WOMAN who was struck deaf five years ago has won a Millennium Award to help others suffering the same trauma.

Jane Atkinson drew on her experience of suddenly losing her hearing to set up a support group for adults struck down by severe or total loss of hearing.

She was one of 51 winners from the Coalfields Community Spirit Millennium Awards, run by the County Durham Foundation, to take part in a two-day networking event in London, where winners met Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

The scheme was established to offer courses in training, mentoring and development that would help people set up and run projects to help their community.

Ms Atkinson founded a small support group for deaf people in Peterlee, and now offers one-to-one support across the former coalfields of County Durham.

She applied for a Millennium Award to help her open an office in Peterlee to act as her base for the support organisation, which employs a full-time development worker.

Ms Atkinson and her fellow winners were thanked by Chief Whip Hilary Armstrong MP when they visited the Houses of Parliament.

Gillian Stacey, director of the County Durham Foundation, said: "Award-winners never cease to amaze me with their determination and spirit to make projects work.

"The whole idea of the Millennium Award scheme is to offer people the chance to make life better for people in their community, and it was wonderful to see so many active projects come together during the visit to London."