INDIVIDUALS, schools, businesses and community groups are celebrating an early Christmas present after being nominated for the sixth Best of Darlington Awards.

The 30 candidates who will compete for this year's honours have been revealed following judging last week.

The panel selected the shortlist and winners as well as overall citizen of the year and young citizen of the year.

Yesterday, a separate panel of judges chose the finalists for the photography competition, Darlington Through the Lens.

The judges included The Northern Echo Editor Peter Barron, Darlington Mayor Bryan Thistlethwaite, chief executive of Darlington Borough Council Ada Burns, director of public health at NHS Darlington, Miriam Davidson, Teesside University deputy vice-chancellor Professor Eileen Martin, executive director of eVOLution Karen Grundy, Rotary Club member Alan Charlton and director of Darlington Partnership Seth Pearson, as well as last year's winners Steve Davies and Brandon Holloway.

Councillor Thistlethwaite said: "There is a lot of talent in Darlington. We have some exceptional people "The awards go from strength to strength and it gets harder to make a decision because the calibre of people improves every year."

The judges for the photography competition, on the theme Oh My Darlington, whittled down the nine shortlisted entries yesterday to decide upon the winners.

All the entries can be viewed on the council's Flickr site at flickr.com/photos/darlingtonboroughcouncil The awards will be presented on Friday, February 18, at Darlington College.

The nominees are:

* Contribution to sport: Michael Dicks, Darren Grey, Laura Robinson, George Simpson.

*Contribution to the arts: Anthony Davison, Darlington Operatic Society, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College students.

*Contribution to business: Cummins, Magnet, Mech-tools.

*Contribution to the environment: Corporation Road Primary School, Darlington College, Denise Parkin.

*Academic excellence: Suzanna Millar, Simon Walton, Andrew Williamson.

*Outstanding vocational learner: Sam Deane, Antonia Puccio, Natalie Webb.

*Exceptional student: Matthew Carnelly, Vivien McKeown, Patience Wambui.

*Neighbour from Heaven: Steven Lunn.

*Volunteer: Diane Evans, Friends of North Park, David Roberts.

*Contribution to the community (adult): Alison Appleyard, Jackie Maddison, Gordon Pybus.

*Contribution to the community (youth): Jade Dwyer, Kirsty Lincoln, Alex Wilson.

*Putting Darlington on the Map: Pat Howarth, Rockliffe Hall, Stone Technical Services.