A STALWART of the community is being honoured with a top national award.

Muriel Boreland, chairwoman of the Brougham Area Residents Association in Hartlepool, is being honoured for her tireless work in the town.

She is to be given a Year of the Volunteer Award for Inspiration by CSV, the national charity which helps create opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their community.

The award recognises the 63-year-old's achievements in inspiring and encouraging residents to become more involved in their community.

Mrs Boreland has worked closely with Housing Hartlepool, which took over the running of the town's former council housing stock, and was nominated for the award by Eddie Price, Housing Hartlepool's resident participation officer.

She said: "I am very honoured to receive the award, but I view it as recognition of the hard work which everyone has put into our local community.

"Working with organisations such as Hartlepool Borough Council and Housing Hartlepool, residents are improving the area they live in and making people's lives better. There's so much dedication and commitment, and we have achieved such a lot."

Mr Price said: "I'm absolutely delighted that Muriel has achieved this richly-deserved recognition.

"She gives 110 per cent to the community and is a marvellous inspiration to us all. She is a wonderful ambassador for Hartlepool."

As well as her work with the residents' association, Mrs Boreland is also a founder member of the Dyke House area Communities Acting Together (CAT).

And she is also heavily involved in the Housing Hartlepool Residents Resource Centre and is also part of a steering group looking at private sector housing renewal.

Mrs Boreland will be presented with her award, a medal struck by the Royal Mint, at a special ceremony in Hartlepool in November.