BLACKBURN with Darwen’s ‘best neighbours’ have been found and celebrated at a special event at King George’s Hall.

As they received their well-deserved accolades, new borough leader Mohammed Khan pledged a ring-fenced pot of £50,000 to help keep the community spirit of local people healthy.

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The hunt for the prize-winners started with the launch of the third annual Good Neighbours Awards 2015, run by Blackburn with Darwen Council and backed by the Lancashire Telegraph, in February.

More than 50 borough residents who make a real difference to the lives of people in their communities were nominated for the awards which were presented to the winners on Tuesday night by mayor Faryad Hussain.

Community event arranger Janice O’Malley, 55, from French Road won the top prize of a one-night stay at Castle Green Hotel in Kendal sponsored by the Lancashire Telegraph.

She organises community events including family days, sports days, and community days.

She said: “I just do it to help people.”

Songbird Joyce Kearton, 61, from Livesey Branch Road, won a voucher for the Stanley House Hotel, sponsored by Capita, for providing entertainment at numerous Your Call events such as the Just Good Friends afternoons for pensioners.

She said: “I love singing, especially for the borough’s old people.”

Husband 67-year-old Brian, who helps her set up, said: “It’s well-deserved and really bucked her up.”

Paul Green, 46, from Mosley Street, won a trip to the Rovers training ground courtesy of Blackburn Rovers for his work picking up rubbish and helping at Ivy Street Community Centre.

Centre organiser Christine O’Connell said: “He’s fantastic – everybody knows him.”

Samiya Dalal won a Fitbit watch donated by Blackburn with Darwen CCG for her role in setting up a sport group for women.

Angela Dickinson, 36, of Peronne Crescent, chose tickets for this year’s King George’’s Hall pantomime over a year’s gym membership as her prize from the borough council.

Maria Kiss, of Oozehead Lane, won match day tickets and a meal for two at Ewood Park courtesy of Blackburn Rovers for supporting friends and neighbours, especially those suffering bereavement.

Vouchers for the The Mall shopping centre worth £50 were won by Joyce Baron of Woodbank Avenue, in Darwen, John McCaughran of Punstock Road in Darwen and Suleman Ismail of Walter Street in Blackburn.

A special mention was given to seven-year-old Nathan Pugh for his passion to keep the streets clean.