A SEARCH has been launched to find the region’s employee of the year.

The Northern Echo has joined forces with the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) to reward inspirational workers.

The first winner of the monthly “Going the Extra Mile” award is Sarah Hodgson who walked four hours through the snow and still managed to start her shift on time.

Miss Hodgson, a supervisor at Oldfields Restaurant, in Durham City, said she was overwhelmed by the amount of attention her diligence had attracted.

When her car got snowed in and with public transport at a standstill, the 28-year-old got up at 5am to walk 15 miles from Delves Lane near Consett to Durham City.

Each “Going the Extra Mile” winner will receive £100 with the best out of the year’s top 12 entries scooping an additional £300.

Miss Hodgson said she was very happy to have been crowned the region’s top employee for January.

“All the attention has been weird,” she said. “I don’t think there was anything remarkable in what I did, I just think it was normal. If I was in the same situation in the future I would walk to work again.”

Bill Oldfield, owner of Oldfields Restaurant, said: “I’m enormously proud of Sarah.

She is an example to us all and I’m delighted that she’s been chosen as the inaugural winner of the Going The Extra Mile award.”

James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the NECC, urged colleagues and bosses to nominate worthy individuals and celebrate their commitment.

“Sarah’s epic snow walk is a stunning example of the efforts employees will make to get to work,” he said.

“Any boss would be over the moon to have that level of dedication from their workforce.

“There are countless scores of unsung workers across the North-East who regularly go above and beyond their job description, which is why NECC is proud to support this excellent initiative by The Northern Echo to recognise these people.”

Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo said: “Sarah, we salute you. In the midst of these Arctic conditions, your dedication to duty is a glowing example to us all and heaps shame on the skivers of the world.

“Just imagine how the economy would benefit if every employer could rely on the likes of the intrepid Sarah Hodgson.”

Going the Extra Mile nominations should be sent to Nigel Burton, Assistant Editor, Northern Echo, PO Box 14, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF or email nigel.bur ton@nne.co.uk Entries should include the individual’s name, place of work, contact number and no more than 50 words about why they should win.