A dedicated volunteer at Manorlands care home, in Oxenhope, has been named as Yorkshire's Unsung Hero of the Year.

Douglas Thompson received the honour at the Yorkshire Awards 2001 ceremony on Friday evening in recognition of his work for the Sue Ryder home.

Mr Thompson, 71, from Bingley, was among a group of five unsung heroes who were nominated for the accolade.

And modest Douglas was completely stunned when it was announced at the televised ceremony on Friday that Yorkshire Television viewers had voted him the winner.

He received a crystal bowl from the award comperes, Richard Whiteley and the Duchess of York.

A proud Mr Thompson said: "I didn't even expect to be on the shortlist of five because I have seen people up for volunteer awards who have given 20 to 30 years service.

"I have only been a volunteer at Manorlands for five years and I thought it would be just a nice experience to go along to the ceremony. I couldn't believe it when they announced I had won -- it was fantastic.

"Richard Whiteley asked why I thought people had nominated me and I said it was the association with Manorlands.

"There's such a lot of people who like Manorlands and have good experiences of Manorlands and I'm sure the name was a big influencing factor.

"The Duchess of York was very nice and said quietly that the award was for me." A retired lecturer at Bradford College, Douglas began voluntary work at the care home following the death of his wife, Muriel, from cancer, in June 1995.

He said: "Towards the end of my wife's illness she came to Manorlands and the level of care she received from the staff here was fantastic. After I retired in 1993 I decided to do some voluntary work, and after I had got over the initial stage of my bereavement I put in an application to Manorlands and started as a driver."

Douglas now spends four days a week driving patients to and from the day care centre.

"Like the rest of the volunteers at Manorlands I have developed other skills, like filing patients' records," he adds.

Manorlands fundraiser Chris Bown said: "It is tremendous for both Douglas and for us that he has won this award because he has done so much for Manorlands.

"All of our volunteers work so hard and we wouldn't be able to carry on without them."

The awards, now in their 13th year, are organised and run by the Yorkshire Awards Committee.