A WOMAN who has devoted years of her life to help polio sufferers has been crowned Rossendale Woman of the Year .

Carolyn Wolstenholme from Haslingden was awarded the accolade at a special lunch ceremony at Horncliffe Mansion yesterday.

The event was to celebrate the achievements of the fundraisers and to raise money for Rossendale Hospice.

The 60-year-old has being a member of the British Polio Fellowship since she was a girl after the contracting the disease as a child.

Mrs Wolstenholme has worked for Rossendale Hospice as a driver and offering day care and is on the national council of the polio fellowship. She also used to be a former teacher of deaf children but had to retire on health grounds.

Speaking at the event, where she was presented with a crystal glass bowl, Mrs Wolstenholme, who was shortlisted alongside Dr Pat Rishton and Barbara Horne said she was proud to have won the award.

She said: "All three of us are winners. I feel very very proud and delighted to have won but also very humble as both Barbara and Pat do terrific work.

"The recognition is just not for me but the people connected with the fellowship as well."

Now in its fifth year the ceremony is the highlight of the hospice's fundraising calendar.

Louise Pillitteri, chairman of the special events committee, said the hospice hoped to raise more than the £10,000 they did last year.

She said: "We are hoping to beat last year's total to raise money for the Hospice Care at Home scheme which will offer vital care for people in the valley in their last few weeks of life.

"This year we had 24 nominations which was a record and all the women are worthy winners."

The runners up received a bouquet of flowers. Dr Rishton who supports a young mothers group in Rossendale said she was surprised to be nominated.

She said: "I am just doing my job but the other ladies do what they do for nothing."

Mrs Horne who has served on the Regional Fundraising Committee for Marie Curie said: "I am amazed and really pleased at the nomination."