POLLS to celebrate the region's unsung heroes are set to close.

The nominations for the first Heart Of Yorkshire Awards will close this weekend after weeks of voting.

The awards, launched by the BBC and the Variety Club of Great Britain, are to recognise outstanding people from the region.

The public can vote for who they believe deserve the titles of Yorkshire Man Of The Year, Woman Of The Year, Community Person Of The Year and Young Person Of The Year.

Nominees include York's very own Berwick Kaler, the pantomime dame and newly-awarded Freeman of the City for Yorkshire Man Of The Year. There will also be the additional awards of the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Special Award and the Team Award for team effort.

Almost 24,000 email and postal votes have already been received and the voting is close - especially in the competition for Yorkshire Woman Of The Year. Polls are open until midnight on Sunday, either by the BBC website or by post.

The winners will be announced on August 1 - Yorkshire Day - at a ceremony in Harrogate, to be presented by TV presenter Christa Ackroyd. Guests will include Lisa Riley, Dickie Bird, Geoff Boycott, Richard Whiteley and Michael Parkinson.

Updated: 08:55 Thursday, July 24, 2003