The judges for this year's Stars of Lowestoft and Waveney awards have announced the shortlist of finalists ahead of the its annual ceremony.

The dazzling award ceremony is being held at the Hotel Victoria, in Lowestoft on Thursday, October 11.

The awards seek to honour and highlight the hard work and dedication of unsung heroes from Lowestoft, Southwold, Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and all the villages in between to provide the praise they deserve.

While last year's ceremony saw the event take place at a new venue, Ivy House Country Hotel in Oulton Broad, this year's event will see awards return to the Hotel Victoria.

Representatives from the award sponsors met recently and whittled down more than 200 entries to a final shortlist.

Organiser Ros Parker, from Parker Communications, said: 'We had over 200 entries and the judges met and deliberated diligently to come up with the list.

'The nominees are being recognised because they really are local heroes are doing something that can often be overlooked and they do it without expecting and recognition.'

She added: 'It's going to be a wonderful evening with a few surprises along the way.'

On the night judges will also reveal an overall winner from the category winners and special recognition awards.

Last year's overall winner award was presented to Halesworth's Courtney Parker after she won Charity Worker of the Year earlier in the night.

Miss Parker set up a charity in May 2016 after losing her son Blayze at just six-weeks-old, and aims to prevent other families from suffering the same devastating loss.

The Blayze'ing Star Charity raises awareness of the infection which killed her son and pays for pregnant women to be sent home tests to screen for strep B, something not offered on the NHS.

The Lowestoft Journal, Beccles and Bungay Journal and Eastern Daily Press are once again proud to be media partners.

The sponsors this year include Lowestoft Rising, Waveney District Council, Archant, Lings Motor Group, Pleasurewood Hills, Hoseasons, Sentinel Leisure Trust, Hotel Victoria, East of England Cooperative Society Funeral Services, Potters Friends Foundation, Waveney Norse and Cottages.com.

Once again the ceremony will be hosted by BBC Suffolk breakfast anchor Mark Murphy.

The shortlist

The nominees shortlisted for the stars of Lowestoft and Waveney Awards this year are . . .

Uniformed Services Person of the Year: RNLI Lifeguards, Lowestoft Volunteer Coastguards, 1st Pakefield Scout Leaders.

Charity Worker of the Year: Wrentham Firefighters, Lee Yaxley, Gary Bennett.

Education Star of the Year: David Gartland, Ashley School Academy Trust, Richard Dolding.

Unsung Hero of the Year: Paul Hammond, Mark Lanham, Ivan Humble.

Team of the Year: Lowestoft Park Run Volunteers, Volunteer Helpers of Access Trip to Europe, Beccles Community Volunteers,.

Sporting Achievement of the Year: George Burroughs, Evangeline Lawrence, Waveney Ac U13.

Young Person of the Year: Joshua Freemantle, Alfie Ashton, Daniel Jillings.

Community Champion of the Year: Volunteer Gardeners at Carlton Court, Shane Martin, Hannah Gotts.

Three further categories - Veteran of the Year, Outstanding Bravery of the Year and a Special Recognition Award - will also be announced on the night.