The Fusion Awards celebrated the achievements of individuals whose work and efforts have made a difference to people across the North West. Nominations were made by the public via Asian Image, the region's largest and most widely read Asian community newspaper.

Joint winners of the COMMUNITY GROUP OF THE YEAR AWARD were Rochdales Kashmir Youth Project (KYP). KYP members received the award on behalf of chief executive Ismail Fulat, who was unable to attend due to ill health. They said: "We're so proud to receive this award recognizing KYP's contributions to Rochdale over the past 25 years, and we dedicate the award to our CEO Ismail Fulat."

Preston's Kailash Parekh was awarded the WOMAN OF THE YEAR accolade. She said afterwards "It's so nice for my work to be recognised by people in the North West, and a really exciting evening for me. For the past 25 years, Kailash, who works for Lancashire College, has worked in education and community development, focusing on building bridges between people of different faiths through training and cultural and religious events.

Joint winners of the COMMUNITY GROUP OF THE YEAR award were the Crompton Women's Forum of Bolton. The group was recognised for its work in combating rising youth crime, alcoholism and drug use within the Asian community.

Farouk Hussain and Sheraz Arshad were presented with the MAN OF THE YEAR award. In the past 12 months, Sheraz and Farooq finally won a 30-year battle to establish the Ribble Valley's first ever mosque, and set about establishing a centre that caters not only for the local Muslim community but also for the wider community. "It's a humbling experience to be nominated and recognized for your efforts in front of so many community-minded people," said Sheraz. "We hope that this means we'll be able to get the support we need to take our work further."

Bradford's Anila Baig who writes for the Sun newspaper scooped the Media Personality Award.

The COMMUNITY COHESION award went to Superintendent Andy Pratt of Lancashire Constabularly. It recognised his pioneering work in the field of diversity and race relations over the past two decades. Urdu speaking Superintendent Pratt has travelled extensively in the Indian subcontinent, visiting India and Pakistan regularly to improve his knowledge and understanding of local South Asian communities in Lancashire.

The ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD went to Imran Hakim of Mikah eyewear (Bolton). He is pictured accepting the award from Chief Executive of Enterprise4all Ltd Khalid Saifullah. Imran's iteddy idea propelled him to stardom this year on the BBC programme Dragon's Den.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire Malcolm Mcvicer presented the EDUCATION AWARD. It went to Zaberjad Iktikhar of Nelson and Colne College for outstanding results in 2006.

FThe ACHIEVEMENT IN SPORT AWARD went to fourteen year-old Teenage snooker sensation Kamran Ashraf who has continued to beat players far older than him in national and regional tournaments. He is pictured alongside a Roll Royce Phantom seven which was on display at the venue courtesy of Elite Limousines.

Mumtaz Bashir is presented with the EXCELENCE IN PUBLIC SECTOR award from Coun Walter Hall Mayor of Bolton Council. She said: "I'm very proud to accept this award on behalf of all the women working so hard in the public sector. I'm extremely proud to be here today - and I have to say that I've never missed the North West as much as I do now."