WITH the excitement of the Tour de France still living in the memory of people all across York, a call is going out to make sure the people who made the weekend happen are recognised.

Community street parties, arts festivals, volunteer Tour Makers, sports heroes and dedicated public sector workers all contributed to the triumphant weekend for York, and all could be eligible for a Community Pride award.

Now awards organisers The Press and City of York Council want to see those Tour heroes nominated.

Sally Burns, the council’s director of communities and neighbourhoods, said: "York was glowing with community activities at the weekend."

Events like the Bishopthorpe Road street party, celebrations in villages like Poppleton, and school projects across the city all helped make the Grand Depart much more than a sporting spectacle, and the community spirited people behind those projects deserves to be feted.

Ms Burns added: "Now's the time to get those people nominated.

"There were so many decorations around the city, and so many people will feel like they were more a part of a community during that weekend than at any other time."

Yorkshire's Tour de France success has been praised both at home and abroad, and le Tour's director Christian Prudhomme has called this year's Grand Depart the best the Tour has seen.

M Prudhomme called the Yorkshire weekend "amazing, unforgettable, and the grandest Grand Départ ever” and many have put the weekend's success down to the overwhelming welcome and support from the Yorkshire people who lined the routes.

The Community Pride awards cover 13 categories for both individuals and groups.

This year's awards were launched in March, and since then nominations for the people and communities who make York a better place have flooded in.

With the nominations closing on Friday, July 18, now is your chance to make sure your community heroes have the recognition they deserve.

The judges are particularly keen to hear about the hard-working health staff who keep York safe and well, and the primary school projects helping the environment around the city.

We need nominations for both the Health Service Hero award - which recognises the unsung heroes quietly go about their duties in the health service with a dedication that is second to none - and Primary School Project of the Year - which goes to a school project including ongoing ones which have improved its surroundings or the environment in general.

Nominees must be in the City of York Council area.

For more information on the Community Pride awards, which are sponsored Benenden Health, or to make a nomination online go to thepress.co.uk/pride.