COMMUNITY heroes have been honoured for their tireless work, at the 2012 Fusion Awards.

During a glittering ceremony, at Ewood Park, in Blackburn, host Sameena Ali Khan led the celebration of young sports stars, entrepreneurs, charity workers, and community groups.

The Blackburn and Darwen Borough Council Community Cohesion Award was won by Sylvia Lancaster, mother of murdered Haslingden teenager Sophie Lancaster, for establishing the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, aimed at breaking down prejudices.

Blackburn’s Ermine Healthy Commun-ities Partnership won the BAE Systems Community Group of the Year Award for encouraging young people into sports, and cutting anti-social behaviour in the Highercroft area by 50per cent in three years.

Spokeswoman Cat Pilkington said: “These ladies took children off the street and got them involved in community projects. I’m so proud of what they’ve achieved.”

Joyce Plummer won the Shahi Qila Woman of the Year Award for her work establishing a community Alcohol Net-work in Accrington, with the help of Trading Standards and the police.

Ten-year-old Bethany Rose, of Clitheroe, won the Aksa Homes Young Neighbourhood Champion award.

Bethany lost her mum, Kathy, to cancer in 2010, and has now raised £30,000 in her memory for Breast Cancer Care.