TV agony aunt Denise Robertson will honour 59 volunteers who have given their time to make a difference in their communities.

Mrs Robertson, from Sunderland, who appears on ITV's This Morning programme, will present Year of the Volunteer medals, along with County Durham's Lord Lieutenant, Sir Paul Nicholson, in a ceremony at Durham's County Hall on Thursday.

As part of the Year of the Volunteer campaign, Community Service Volunteers (CSV) has awarded 2,005 medals to outstanding people from across the county, to celebrate their contribution to others. A lucky few will be invited to a national celebration in London early next year.

Elizabeth Salter, Year of the Volunteer campaign manager, said: "The Year of the Volunteer medal is just a small way to thank the incredible hard work of so many committed volunteers from Durham who give up their time to help others.

"I hope that the medal winners inspire anyone who hasn't already enjoyed the benefits of volunteering to give it a go and make a difference in their local community."

Among the medal winners are retired teacher Kathleen Tweddle, who volunteers with the West Rainton Green Group, Kimberley Ferguson, of West Cornforth, who has cerebral palsy and volunteers with the Butterflies Day Nursery, Tracy Marks, from Thornley, who helps people learn to use computers at Thornley Library and runs craft and story sessions there, and Gill Roddam, of Spennymoor, who is a netball umpire and organiser of netball competitions.