AN awards ceremony celebrating Asian people's contribution to the North West will take place this weekend.

Eleven people from East Lancs have been nominated for the Fusion Awards, co-sponsored by the Lancashire Telegraph's sister paper Asian Image.

The awards celebrate volunteers, public servants and high achievers in the Asian community.

Fusion 07, organised by Blackburn-based kismet pr, will reward people who have encouraged co-operation and understanding between different communities.

The list of nominees also includes those who have excelled at their chosen sport.

People from Blackburn and Burnley have been nominated in six categories including community group of the year and media personality of the year.

Asian Image readers were asked to nominate their chosen heroes and the finalists were whittled down to four in each section.

One winner in each section will be announced at the event on Sunday.

Rosmina Adam, of organiser kismet pr, said: "It has been pleasing to see so many people and groups who go unnoticed in their communities being nominated and reaching the final list."

The event will feature a fabulous fashion show with no less than eight fashion houses from the North West, musical entertainment and a three course meal served up by Bukhara.

The Fusion awards will take place in the Premiere Suite at Bolton's Reebok Stadium.

There will also be an appearance local celebrities who will be on hand to present the awards.

Part of the proceeds from the event will go to the Fusion '07 official charity - Global Assist - which is helping to build a school in quake-hit Kashmir.