TONIGHT will be a momentous occasion for those people receiving Volunteer of the Year awards for their community-spirited work in the county.

Hereford MP Paul Keetch will be presenting the awards at Tarrington village hall.

It is the first time that the scheme has been run in the south-west of Herefordshire, covering Ross-on-Wye, Ledbury and surrounding parishes.

Ross Volunteer Bureau co-ordinator Sue Brazendale said: "We wanted to do something to recognise and reward volunteers and to let people know how much of what happens around us is the result of voluntary activity."

The winners would be representing the hard work carried out by all volunteers across Herefordshire, she added.