FOR a year, the Argus/SWALEC Local Hero Awards have paid tribute to wonderful people across Gwent who have given their time to make a difference. Yesterday saw the culmination of the awards.

Pensioner George Williams is your Local Hero of the Year. Our readers voted to choose the 77-year-old former Royal Marine Commando from Newport for the title because of his dedication to his community.

Mr Williams has spent much of his life being strong for others, either on the battlefield or in the home.

Mr Williams, of Ringland, spends most of his day looking after wife Lilly, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, and caring for his neighbour Irene Beynon, who is blind, partially deaf, has angina and has had multiple strokes.

Mr Williams also walks Mrs Beynon's guide dog Wenna, as well as raising thousands of pounds for the Newport branch of Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Mr Williams' friend and fellow member of the Newport branch, Dorothy Thomas, said: "George is a marvellous man and a well-deserved winner. He will do anything for anyone and asks for nothing in return. He has a lot to deal with at home looking after his wife so it's amazing he still does this much."

Mr Williams said: "I am just stumped to have won. I had no idea because I honestly thought there were more deserving people than me. I am especially happy for Newport Guide Dogs for the Blind because they are getting the £500 winning cheque. I used to do a lot more but I still help them as much as I can."

Mrs Beynon and Mrs Williams accompanied Mr Williams to the awards ceremony, and Mrs Beynon said: "It's wonderful. No-one deserves this more than George."

EACH of our ten monthly winners was invited to Newport's Hilton Hotel, along with friends, partners and representatives of the charities they donated to. Our ten winners were:

Newport taxi driver Graham Willis; Trevor and Jean Watkins of Duffryn; Vilma Morgan, of Caldicot; Geraint Neagle, of Cwmbran; Paul Lewis from Ringland; Animal sanctuary owner Viv Harris; Chepstow day centre worker Ivy Coldwell; George Williams; Scout leaders Alan and Sue Lewis; Noel Young, of Cwmbran.

Also in attendance was Bettws football club manager Nobby Woodcock, a Local Hero nominee who went on to be crowned Unsung Hero in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

Argus reporter Darren Evans and Swalec operations manager Roger Pettit were there to meet them all and congratulate them on becoming Local Heroes.

Roger Pettit said the awards had been a huge success. "This was a wonderful event," he said. "It was lovely to meet all the winners again, and I am pleased that we are able to recognise their hard work while at the same time making a contribution to local charities. "I don't think you could get a more deserving winner than George - his dedication is fantastic.

"But it is important to remember that all our nominees are winners and heroes."