PUPILS and parents across York have been urged to nominate their favourite teachers, in this year’s Community Pride Awards.

This is the eighth time The Press has run the awards, in partnership with City of York Council and a host of local businesses, which celebrate unsung heroes throughout the city.

This year, for the sixth time, Drax Power Station has sponsored the Teacher Of The Year category, and Melanie Wedgbury, head of external affairs at Drax, called the actions of all nominees “inspiring”.

She said: “When you hear about what members of the local community do it makes you very proud to be associated with recognising their achievements.

“Supporting the awards is a simple effort for Drax compared with the encouraging and inspiring actions of the candidates.”

Drax Power Station has recently committed to sustainable energy, with an application for a carbon capture and storage facility going before a European funding committee.

Melanie said the Teacher Of The Year category fitted in with the firm’s desire to educate and learn about sustainable energy.

She said: “Teachers can often be the unsung heroes in our community and we are pleased to be able to recognise those who make that extra difference to the lives of pupils.

“At Drax, we would like to encourage everyone to enter the awards. If you have got an amazing teacher who you think deserves to be celebrated then we would like to know more about them.”

To make a nomination, complete the form at thepress.co.uk/pride before Friday, July 22.

All nominees must live or be based in the City of York Council tax area, and the winners will be invited to the awards ceremony in October.