AWARDS are to be presented to 20 West Somerset people plus Minehead born science fiction guru Arthur C Clarke as part of the county council's celebrations of the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

They are among 75 Somerset residents being honoured for helping their communities in a variety of ways ranging from putting their villages on the map to visiting sick neighbours.

And it means that West Somerset boasts almost one third of the total number of 'worthies' across the entire county.

Each recipient was nominated for an award by those who have noticed their contribution, sometimes spanning over many decades, to people of all ages and/or to communities as a whole.

A committee whittled down the entries and Somerset County Council chairman Cllr Robin Bush will present the awards to the final 75 at a ceremony later this summer.

Cllr Bush said that he had been "impressed" and "overwhelmed" by the breadth of civic work carried out by people within the county, which was justifiably going to be marked by the awards.

"Many people will naturally recognise some famous names among the winners, but the large majority of these people are ordinary folk working within their local communities in Somerset to make life there that bit better.

"The amount of work and dedication that they put in is staggering and I am only too happy that in some small way, through these awards, the county council can recognise that work."

Mentioning only some of the contributions for which they were nominated, the West Somerset award winners are :

Danesfield Community School head teacher Ian Bradbury; founder member of Minehead Citizens Information Bureau Doris Cross; long-serving parish councillor and WI stalwart Gladys Deacon, of Milverton; charity fundraiser and Red Cross Centre cook Margaret Edwards, of Watchet; beacon of the village hall, youth club and over 50s Joyce Halliday, of Bicknoller; fundraiser, Poppy appeal collector and long-time parish councillor Ben Hammett, of Porlock; champion of people with learning difficulties Jane Jones, of Minehead; hard-working RNLI Guild member Barrie Lanham, of Minehead, who runs the shop and raises funds; his late wife Gillian Lanham who was RNLI shop secretary, delivered meals on wheels and ran the WRVS coffee shop; Eileen Lovell, of Dunster, a volunteer with the likes of the Parkinson's Disease Society and in caring for the elderly; a guiding light with the parish hall committee, PCC Brushford Youth Club and Dulverton Heritage Centre, Ellen Maund; hospital driver, meals on wheels deliverer, Red Cross medical equipment 'boss' and church worker Hazel Peck, of Dulverton; teacher of judo and similar sports plus Watchet Town Band member for many years, Adrian Rowe; manager of Porlock TIC Denise Sage, who works hard in many ways to promote Porlock; lay preacher John Staniland, of Minehead, who also escorts people with mental and physical health problems; RAFA welfare officer and Wings Appeal organiser Ronald Storey, of Minehead, whose behind the scenes voluntary work is boundless; organist at four churches Hilda Takle, of Dulverton, also involved with Winsford Handbell Ringers, the WI and St Margaret's Somerset Hospice shop; her husband farmer and churchwarden Tony Takle who teaches tower bellringing and is active with the YFC; Dennis Taylor, chairman of West Somerset Railway; and magistrate Tim Webb, of Minehead, a churchwarden, parish councillor and one who helps others.