TWO dedicated volunteers who spend their time making the world a better place for others have been praised by the people around them.

Selfless hospital volunteer Diana Thomson has been nominated for the Community Pride Volunteer of the Year award by hospital staff who say their ward would not be the same without her patient and caring attention to people recovering from illness.

As a dining companion, Diana spends as many as four days a week helping people with dementia on ward 37 of York Hospital.

Her nomination said: "Diana treats these patients with great dignity and respect helping mealtimes a pleasant and inclusive experience. She understands the patients needs and never rushes them giving them time to enjoy their meal whilst engaging with them throughout."

Holgate woman Helen Hoult is up for the same award for her role organising the West Bank Park Summer Fair. Helen stepped in to save the much-loved valued community event when the council this year announced it could not run the fair.

Her nomination has praised the commitment and hard work Helen put in, dedicating her evenings and weekends to make the day a success.

It said: "Well over 2,000 people attended and there were smiles everywhere you looked. The atmosphere was fantastic, it really brought the local community together.

"In an age of austerity, when so many neighbourhoods are losing the things they hold dear so books can be balanced, it's warming to know community spirit is alive and well."