Unsung heroes and heroines who make Norfolk great will be celebrated as well as having the chance to see their dreams turn into a reality.

Now is your chance to nominate a dedicated individual or team following the launch of the Stars of Norfolk Awards yesterday, supported by the EDP and Norfolk County Council.

The awards, which are split up into 17 different categories, were kicked off yesterday by EDP and Norwich Evening News editor Nigel Pickover in front of emergency service workers, dignitaries and businessmen and women.

Mr Pickover said: 'This is for ordinary folk who give everything but expect nothing. It is our way of saying thank you and the final evening will be very special. We will make dreams come true.

'I call Norfolk the great county and I absolutely love it here.'

The award categories range across every aspect of community life and include Carer of the Year; Hospital/Ambulance Person of the Year; Unsung Hero of the Year; and Team of the Year.

Anyone can be nominated and several nominations can be made by one person.

The judges will choose the top three nominees from each category in September and the winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony at St Andrew's Hall, Norwich, on October 18. An overall winner will be chosen out of the final 17.

Nominating is easy - just fill in the form in today's EDP or click on the link at the top right of this page.

Mr Pickover hoped the new awards ceremony would be a culmination of different awards ceremonies across the county.

For the past five years the Stars of Suffolk Awards have been running and winners have included an 11-year-old boy from Ipswich who set up a brain tumour foundation and a police officer who was stabbed and nearly died.

Surprises for winners in the past have included a new bike and two first class aeroplane tickets for a mother to attend her daughter's wedding in Sydney, Australia.

Organiser Mick Parker said: 'The stars events are about real heroes and heroines. They are magical. All of us know someone who deserves to be nominated. When the nominees are told they are finalists they are completely bowled over.'

He added the stories that come out of the nominations were 'heart-warming',

'There are things that are going on in our communities that we don't know about. There are so many acts of bravery, heroism and courage that you never normally hear about,' Mr Parker said.

He also encouraged people to nominate emergency service workers who went 'above and beyond' in their daily lives.