THE deadline for nominations for the Colchester Community Awards is today.

For the last couple of months, we have been searching for people who go the extra mile to help others.

Colchester Trinity Rotary Club and the Gazette launched the inaugual awards to celebrate the borough’s unsung heroes.

Rotarian Nick Clarke said: “The response from the Gazette readers has been extremely enthusiastic and we have had a lot of encouraging conversations from the readers who would like to see this become an annual event.

“Today is the closing date for this year’s nominations and I would urge anybody who knows somebody who has helped other people in the community to put their name forward.”

Winners will receive a Rotary Fellowship Award - the highest award the Rotary can give anyone in the community - as well as Lion Walk shopping vouchers and an engraved silver salver.

Colchester solicitors firm John Fowlers LLP sponsors the category recognising outstanding community service through the workplace.

Practice manager Neil Watts said: “John Fowlers LLP are proud to support the Colchester Community Awards 2011 and to be instrumental in recognising the contribution made by the unsung heroes of our community.

“So many local people have accomplished great things against all the odds, shown outstanding courage or support for a cause, or simply been in the right place at the right time to lend a much needed helping hand."

Final nominations can be made via the Gazette website.