A widower from Wear Valley has won a County Durham Good Neighbour Award for caring for a stroke victim who lives next door.

Jim Simpson, 78, of York Court, Witton Park, scooped the Durham Aged Mineworkers' Homes Association award, beating a record 130 hopefuls.

The kind-hearted ex-miner was nominated by 80-year-old Jessie Hughes, who lives next door, for the help he has given her husband George, 86, since he suffered a severe stroke last spring.

Mr Simpson was presented with the good neighbour trophy and a £50 cheque by Mick Wood, of award sponsors Tunstall Telecom, at at Chester-le-Street parish centre yesterday.

Mr Simpson said: "I just did what any normal person would in the circumstances.

"The Hugheses are very nice people who were very good to me when I lost my wife, Freda."

Robert Dickinson, of Rydal Avenue, South Moor, Stanley, won £100 and a runner-up plaque after being nominated by Joseph Hillard for his help in cooking meals, tidying up, doing shopping and laundry.

Third prize went to Les Barker, of Woodlands Avenue, Wheatley Hill, who was nominated by Dorothy Smith and William Galloway, both of the Aged Miners Homes, in Wheatley Hill.