FORTUNATELY the milk of human kindness still exists in other walks of life. Every year we like to honour some of the most inspirational people in York at our Community Pride Awards.

Selecting a shortlist is always difficult, but the adjudicators tell us this year’s task has been one of the hardest yet.

That said, the 36 individual finalists and nine groups have now been announced. But the really hard bit is choosing the winners for the award’s glittering gala dinner at York Racecourse in October.

Perhaps it’s fitting that alongside the heartrending stories, this year’s nominees include people who really brought the Tour de France spirit into their communities.

Once again, the judges have had an unenviable task. We wouldn’t want to be in their shoes.