ONE man's dedication to the residents in his village has won him a prestigious award.

Colin Reynolds received a Durham County Council Chairman's Medal for years of voluntary work in his home village of Pelton Fell.

Mr Reynolds has been pivotal to the regeneration of the community, including at the Brockwell Centre.

He has been at the fore of projects to secure funding for the centre, provide a wide range of activities for residents and develop a successful 'youth hub.'

As part of the group which won Heritage Lottery funding for a replica banner for Pelton Fell, Mr Reynolds helped honour the history of the area. Te banner now stands proudly in the centre and is paraded at the Durham Miners' Gala.

Beyond Pelton Fell, he has supported the regeneration of the wider community, working with various bodies including the Chester-le-Street and District Area Action Partnership, at which he has chaired one of its task groups. He was also chair of the Community Buildings Consortium for the Chester-le-Street and district area.

Durham County Council Chairman, Councillor John Lethbridge, who presented the award, said: "All of the above is testament to Colin's lifelong commitment to his village and the residents he supports with the work he is involved in, both locally in Pelton Fell and across the wider community of Chester-le-Street. His work has a huge impact, showing his very resourceful, passionate character."

Mr Reynolds received his medal at Pelton Fell community centre, surrounded by colleagues and friends.

He said: "When I retired I wanted to keep occupied and use my life experiences to benefit others and so volunteered to become secretary of the Pelton Fell community group, not realising the responsibilities that this involved. Everything else has developed from that. I have been fortunate in having many colleagues who have become friends and who feel the same as I do about working in the community to maintain and improve it."