A TEESSIDE campaigner has been granted an award for her commitment to her community.

Olywn Peters, a former Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, has been made a Teesside Hero for her work with community groups.

A councillor for more than seven years, Cllr Peters has worked with the Whale Hill Community Association for the last 28 years.

She said: “I feel passionately about the Whale Hill area because it’s where I come from. Wanting to do what is best and what is right for the people who live here is what drives me on.”

She added: “It’s a real honour and it’s great that efforts to make the area better are being recognised in Whale Hill and beyond.”

The 55-year-old from South Bank, near Middlesbrough, was presented with a trophy and £1,000 from charitable movement Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, which she is giving back to Whale Hill Community Association for the children’s choir and Christmas activities.

Her work ranges from mother and toddler groups to back-to-work and education programmes, as well as the 50-strong Whale Hill One Voice community choir.

Foundation trustee and patron, John McCullagh paid tribute when presenting the award at the Goathland Road community centre.

“Olwyn is a genuinely big-hearted person who just gets out there and does whatever she can for her community,” he said.