A Blackpool youth offending team officer is among this year's unsung heroes from the north west to be recognised for her efforts at the annual Fusion Awards.

Sheela Solanki, a full-time youth offending team officer working in Blackpool, won a Public Service Award for her work as the volunteer chair of the management committee at Preston Women's Refuge, a drop-in centre for victims of domestic violence with a 24-hour staffed helpline.

The Fusion Awards, backed by Asian Image, The Citizen's sister paper, were held at Ewood Park, Blackburn, on Saturday, to celebrate people who have contributed to their communities across the region.

Shuiab Khan, Editor of the Asian Image newspaper through which nominations were made, said: "As an awards ceremony this was indeed unique as it attracted people of all backgrounds and ages.

"The concept of the awards is to give recognition to those who take part in so much community work but do not always remain in the public domain.

"For the majority of our nominees this is the first time they have been recognized in this way.

"They are the life-blood of all our communities and in a small way we are here to thank all those individuals and groups.

"The judges had a very dificult task because the quality of the nominees was so high."