TONIGHT'S the night for the stars of grassroots sport in the North-East.
With hundreds of nominations sent in, the judging is over, and the winners of the npower Local Heroes Awards 2005 will be announced at a glittering ceremony at Hardwick Hall Hotel, near Sedgefield.
The awards - known as The Oscars of Grass Roots Sport - are now in their fifth year and the event is bigger than ever.
A host of celebrities, including Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren, will be among a 700-strong audience.
They will be joined by Darlington and Hartlepool managers David Hodgson and Martin Scott, Ashes hero Gary Pratt, Durham cricket coach Martyn Moxon, and former world boxing champion Glenn McCrory.
The evening will again be compered by Peter Barron, Editor of The Northern Echo, who said: "The standard of nominations gets better every year. There are some incredible stories to be told and we are in for another very special night."
Money raised during the evening will be donated to Sports Aid Northern which supports North-East youngsters trying to make their way in the world of grass roots sport.
The winners will be announced in the Local Heroes supplement, with tomorrow's Northern Echo.
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