SIXTEEN years of hard work to improve the lives of others was rewarded when 69-year-old Irene Hinds was crowned Burnley Asda's Local Hero.

Irene, who lives in Heather Bank sheltered housing, south-west Burnley, began voluntary work in her neighbourhood in 1984 when a community group was formed to improve one of the town's most-deprived areas.

She beat her nerves to give a small presentation in front of a judging panel, and fought off stiff competition from the seven other finalists -- former mayor and mayoress of Burnley Coun Eddie Fisk and Coun Pat Chadwick, Tony Palmer and Geoff West, Lilian Howarth, Anthony Brankin and Eric Brierley.

The judges were: Asda manager Andy Davies, Lancashire Evening Telegraph reporter Nicola Mott, PC Pat Sutton, Chamber of Trade secretary Rita Walsh, Ivy Bank High School headmaster Stephen Ball, Burnley Express editor Chris Daggett and St John's Primary School headmaster Kieran Heakin.

Although Irene says her age prevents her doing much physical work, she is still involved in organising children's discos, Burnley Play Association, the holiday project and a majorettes group, and is a founder member of the South West Burnley Community Enterprise Limited, which enabled the creation of a centre last year. She also helped set up a community centre in 1989 and was involved in improvements at Stoops, Hargher Clough and Bleak House.

Irene received £100, which she will donate to South West Burnley Holiday Project for deprived children. She also received a TV for herself from Asda.