A DISABLED woman has heaped praise on her 77-year-old neighbour, who will drop anything to help out.

Ron Hick has mown lawns, fixed letterboxes and even hosted residents' association meetings at his house in the North Road area of Darlington.

Neighbour Christine Humphries, 61, suffers from arthritis and vertigo and says Mr Hick's boundless enthusiasm helps her and others out immensely.

His kindness has led her to nominate him as a Northern Echo Neighbour From Heaven.

She said: "You could not wish for a better neighbour than Ron. I do not think there is a house in our road whose grass he has not cut.

"He is happy to help anyone out and put everyone else to shame. He has certainly been a great help to me.

"You hardly ever find him in his house because he is always out helping others."

Mr Hick had no idea he had been nominated for the award until he was contacted by The Northern Echo.

He said: "The neighbours are in a worse state than me and they rely on people like me. It is good for me to keep active, and we need more neighbourly people in the world."

Mr Hick will be presented with a Neighbour From Heaven certificate and has a chance of winning a £1,500 holiday, courtesy of The Cruise Store.

If he wins, Mrs Humphries will win £250 worth of holiday vouchers. To nominate someone for the award, known as an outstanding behaviour special award (Obsa), which is the opposite of an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo), send your entry to Neighbours From Heaven, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF.

The closing date is June 1 and nominees could be featured in the paper.