A ROTARIAN was yesterday honoured for his tireless work in the community by being named Darlington's Citizen of the Year.

Alan Charlton, an active member of the Rotary Club in Darlington, was awarded the accolade for his extensive voluntary work throughout the town.

The 68-year-old was presented with a trophy at the annual Mayor's Community Awards ceremony, sponsored by the Mayor's Charity Fund and The Northern Echo.

Mr Charlton, who is also president of the Friends of Darlington Memorial Hospital, will attend important civic events as part of the award.

Receiving the accolade from the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Ron Lewis, Mr Charlton said: "It is a great honour to have this award and I think it reflects the hundreds of volunteers I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 15 years.

"The voluntary sector is very strong and important in Darlington.

"All of us here today are delivering a service that would not otherwise be done, and I'm very proud to be a part of that."

His efforts in the community include helping to set up the Rotary Club's Young Musician of the Year competition in 1993, and the Darlington 10km Road Race.

He also organised the voluntary driver scheme at the Memorial Hospital, which provides transport for patients who find it difficult to get there.

The Community Group of the Year Award was presented to the Friends of North Lodge Park, a group established more than two years ago to help clean up and look after the park.

Yvonne Richardson, Friend's chairwoman, collected the award on behalf of the group.

"For years many of us had ideas about what we wanted to see done in the park, but you can't do it on your own," she said.

"When you meet other people who have the same ideas and shared passions, then you become inspired and you know you can do it together."

Record numbers of nominations were received for the mayor's citizenship awards, which organisers hope will set a standard for years to come.

Coun Lewis said: "It has also been an excellent year for the quality of candidates put forward."

Nominees for the Citizen of the Year were: David Reagan, of Cockerton and Branksome Living Enterprise; Dr Peter Carr, of Darlington Memorial Hospital; Mollie Whitehouse, of the Friends of North Lodge Park; Terry Taylor, a Bank Top resident; Keith Miller, secretary of Darlington Residents' Panel; Andrena Cabourn, headteacher of Firthmoor Primary School; Eileen Shephard, of Whinfield Residents' Association; Christopher Robinson, a Hurworth village resident; Jean Thurkettle, Charles Young and Marion Buckley, all Darlington residents.

Nominees for the Community Group of the Year were: Cockerton and Branksome Living Enterprise (Cable), The Boys Brigade at St Matthew and St Luke's Church, Darlington Residents' Panel, Firthmoor Community Partnership Board, Red Hall Partnership, The Growing Old and Living in Darlington (Gold) project team and the Come and Meet Each Other (Cameo) group.