RESIDENTS in Dorset are being urged to nominate someone special for this year’s Dorset Hall of Fame Awards.

From people who go the extra mile for their community to kind-hearted charity workers – the hunt is on to find the county’s very own unsung heroes.

The Daily Echo and Dorset Echo have teamed up with Heart FM for this year’s Dorset Hall of Fame Awards and nominations are open.

This is the second year of the awards and last year five people were inducted, including the late Jim Cronin MBE who founded Dorset’s Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre in 1987.

He established himself as an international expert in the rescue and rehabilitation of abused primates and the enforcement of international treaties aimed at protecting primates from illegal trade, exploitation and abuse.

Mr Cronin died in March 2007.

The award was collected by his wife Dr Alison Cronin.

The 2013 awards night will take place on October 10 at the Pavilion Ballroom, off Westover Road, where five extraordinary people who have made the county better, or made a difference, will be recognised.

Closing date for nominations is Sunday. There are no categories or criteria to qualify for consideration, they just have to be amazing people.

Heart FM presents The Dorset Hall of Fame with Teachers Building Society in association with The Daily Echo.

Laura Richards, from Teachers Building Society, said: “As the only building society based in Dorset, we are excited to be involved in the promotion of an award that is open to every single person living in this great county.

“We encourage people from all walks of life to get involved and nominate worthy contenders to celebrate the wonderful things being done by the people of Dorset for the people of Dorset.”

See heart.co.uk/dorset/win/dorset-hall-of-fame for details.