The Pride of Bedford were honoured at a glittering awards ceremony on Monday night.

The event, co-organised for the first time by the Times & Citizen and Bedford Borough Council, sought to recognise the ordinary people who do extraordinary things to help make the town a better place to live and work.

And 250 guests at The Park Inn hotel heard some remarkable stories.

The Child Of Courage award, sponsored by Asda, was won by nine-year-old Jake Brightman, who was left completely paralysed after suffering a bleed from the brain stem during an operation on his throat two years ago.

After a year in hospital, Jake's determination pulled him through, and now he fundraises for the Sick Children's Trust that helped him to a great recovery.

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Highly commended were:

** Rebecca Prosser, who has undergone laser surgery to remove an aggressive birthmark on her face at Bedford Hospital;

** Charlotte Daniels, 13, who suffers from facio scapular humeral muscular dystrophy, a progressive condition which results in muscle weakness and, in her rare complication, hearing loss. She is too weak now to push herself around in her wheelchair, so is hoping to raise funds for an electric one to give her independence and so beloved dog Cassy can be trained to walk alongside her;

** George Kelly, eight, who cares for his little sister Maisie, who has ADHD, partial deafness and a condition where tumours grow at the end of her nerve endings. And, more recently, he has been looking after his mum, who has cancer, asking to be taught how to wash up and make hot drinks so she can rest;

** And Olivia Whitelock, aged ten, who has also been looking after her cancer-patient mum.

The Fundraiser Of The Year award, sponsored by the Harpur Centre, was won by Dennis Tailor, who raises thousands of pounds every year for
Christian Family Care.

Highly commended was Michelle Fleming, whose life was devastated at 39 when she found out she had a rare form of genetic diabetes that completely destroyed her vision within three months, yet has found a new passion volunteering at the Animal Rescue Advisory Services.

The Young Achiever prize, sponsored by The University of Bedfordshire, went to 16-year-old Sean Denham, Flight Sergeant in the 134 Bedford Squadron AIr Cadets.

Highly commended was Benjamin Roomes, a student at the Elmhurst School for Dance who scored 100% in the Royal Academy of Dance grade two classical ballet exam.

The Adult Achiever award was presented to Nigel Thompson, 5th Dan at the East Area Thai Kick Boxing club, who has also helped hundreds of young people find direction through sport over 28 years.

Highly commended was Kyle Bennett Knell, who overcame a challenging start to life, plus dyslexia and ADHD, to win a gold and two silver medals representing Britain at the Special Olympic Games in Beijing.

The Service With A Smile award, sponsored by Bedford BID, saw WH Smith assistant Harminder Mahi win with an incredible 25 nominations. Highly commended was The Limes Café.

On the back of several nominations, the Cauldwell Community Project won the Pat Olney Leisure and Culture award, headed by Laura Charnock to improve the social, educational, economic and developmental wellbeing of children, parents and the whole community of Cauldwell and Kingsbrook.

Highly commended were the multi-cultural Fusion Youth singing and dancing group, who also regally entertained guests over dinner.

The Winifred Fowler Services To The Community award, sponsored by BPHA, honoured the Future of Kempston Youth Forum, whose aim is to help create a safer town for everyone, trying to keep young people out of trouble, organising community clear-ups, reporting vandalism and giving advice on taboo subjects.

Highly commended were Amrik Singh Jamu and the Guru Nanak Gurdwara for their work in Queens Park.

The Educational Attainment prize, sponsored by Bedford College, recognised 18-year-old Philip Lack's work setting up a radio station to support pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties at Biddenham Upper School. Highly commended was Elstow Lower School.

The Hazel Mitchell Environment Award, sponsored by Jordans, went to Pamela Stephenson, who has planted more than 7,000 trees in Bedfordshire.

Highly commended was Shane Hughes, one of the founder members of the Zero Carbon Castle climate change action group.

And the Helping/Caring For Others award, sponsored by Park Woodfine Heald Mellow LLP, went to long-time foster parents Rose and Paul Murphy.

Highly commended was young George Kelly, and also Annette Brazenor, 64, volunteer at the Beds and District Cerebral Palsy group and full-time carer of a 15-year-old grandson with the condition.

The awards evening was hosted by actress Trudie Goodwin, best known for 23 years in the role of Sgt June Ackland in ITV's The Bill, and Times & Citizen group editor John Francis.

Mr Francis said: "These awards are going to become an important date in Bedford's calendar, and it's vital that they should do so.

"The Times & Citizen prides itself on reporting the good news along with the bad, and promoting the positive side of Bedford life. And the winners are people who have shown extraordinary community spirit, great bravery, and enormous fellow feeling for the people who live and work alongside them."

A raffle raised £505 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.