PEOPLE are being urged to vote for a community-spirited mother as the Lone Parent of the Year.

Jean-Ann Clulow, a 45-year-old mother-of-four from Darlington, has been named the North-East finalist in this year's competition, sponsored by Eurocamp.

Ms Clulow will now have the chance to win the family's first holiday together.

She became a lone parent in 1998, and has since turned her hand to helping improve the quality of life in the Northgate area of town.

As chairwoman of the Northgate Community Partnership, she has helped secure grants to spruce up the area, including money for park refurbishment and investment in street lighting.

She is also vice-chairwoman of the Friends of North Lodge Park, where she has helped organise the park's annual tree-dressing festival.

Children from Northgate celebrate the ancient druid custom by decorating trees with ribbons and artwork.

All the activities Ms Clulow has organised are child-friendly so she can spend time with her children - Robyn, 14, Bede, 13, and Herbie, seven.

She also has an older son Richard, 24, who has a son, Spencer, aged 18 months.

Ms Clulow said: "Northgate is a really wonderful place, but if you are on a low income there is a lack of things.

"But through doing the work with the friends and the community partnership, I have met such a diverse range of people that it does make you feel more secure and part of it all."

Ms Clulow has now reached the final 11 contestants in the Lone Parent of the Year award, which is supported by the charity One Parent Families.

She will be entered in a national online vote for the chance to win a £2,500 Eurocamp holiday.

Ms Clulow said: "It would be great if we were to win it. We have never been away on holiday together.

"The children also work very hard. They do an awful lot of work delivering leaflets for the community partnership and the friends.

"They have already been through the brochures where they want to go.

"My son's found a campsite in Austria with summer skiing and the girls are interested in one near Venice and Milan for the shopping."

To vote for Ms Clulow, visit www.eurocampaward.co.uk