AN awards ceremony celebrating Lancashire's unsung heroes will this year be held in Blackburn instead of Preston.

The September event will be at King George's Hall.

Last year the first-ever BBC Radio Lancashire Community Heroes awards was held at Preston's Guild Hall but following its closure earlier this year, a new venue was needed.

After carefully considering a range of alternatives, including Blackpool's Tower Ballroom, BBC bosses decided on King George's Hall, not far from Radio Lancashire's town centre headquarters.

The news has delighted Blackburn MP Kate Hollern and Blackburn with Darwen Council leisure boss Cllr Damian Talbot.

The awards is to recognise unsung heroes from across the county, in nine categories covering everything from good neighbours to voluntary work.

Nominations will be judged by a panel led by BBC Radio Lancashire's Managing Editor John Clayton.

He said: “I’m delighted the our Community Heroes Awards 2019 will be held in Blackburn and look forward to working with the King George’s Hall to put on a fantastic event.

“As the only radio station to cover the whole of Lancashire, it’s important we reach out to each and every part of the county. The closure of Preston’s Guild Hall complex meant we had to look for an alternative venue and this supported our thinking for getting out and about.”

Cllr Talbot said: "We are really pleased to be hosting such a prestigious event as King George's Hall. It is fitting that it should be the venue for an awards ceremony organised by a broadcasting organisation based in Blackburn."

Mrs Hollern said: "I was delighted this years’ BBC Radio Lancashire Community Heroes awards will be held at King George’s Hall. This is a very important event, celebrating community work across the whole of Lancashire, and the grandeur of King George’s Hall is a fitting location to recognise the efforts of local people’.

Radio Lancashire breakfast presenter Graham Liver,who will host the show, said: “I’m really looking forward to the inspiring stories of those nominated. It is great for them to get the recognition they deserve and we’re excited to be taking the awards ceremony to Blackburn.”