Esther Rantzen, joins BBC South Today presenter, Sally Taylor, at the De Vere Grand Harbour, Southampton, for the third BBC South Community Champions Awards, tonight (Friday).

The awards acknowledge the contribution made by "unsung heroes", exceptional people from across the region, who often go beyond the call of duty and make their community a better place to live.

And among those in the running for an award are Marjorie Clarke, from Alresford and Sue Knight, from Winchester.

In 1949, Marjorie started a youth clubwhich is still going strong today. She is also president of the WI and chairman of the Alresford group WI and helps organise Christmas lunch for the elderly in Alresford.

Sue is a founder member of the Winchester Alzheimer's Socity group and offers support and encouragement to other members.

Speaking before the awards ceremony, Miss Rantzen said: "Meeting the Community Champions over the last couple of years has been an exhilarating experience and has given me a renewed faith in humanity after hearing their inspiring stories.

"The public prove time and again that they have extraordinary resources of courage and compassion which make all the difference to our communities," she added.

The judging panel includes: Peter White, BBC disabilities correspondent and Chris Perry, of Age Concern Hampshire.

Categories include :

* Racial harmony; to recognise work done to bring about racial harmony and understanding between the different communities in the South;

* Multi-faith understanding; to recognise work done to bring about understanding in the South's multi-faith communities;

* Special contribution; to recognise a particular contribution made to help others within the wider community by someone aged under-21, 21-55, and over-55;

* Contribution by a person with a disability; to recognise the contribution made by a person with a disability who has made a special contribution to help others within their wider community;

* Understanding of disability; to recognise the contribution made by a person with a disability to improve understanding of disability amongst able-bodied people;

* Working with young citizens; to recognise work which has improved the quality of life for young people under 21; Working with Senior Citizens - to recognise work which has improved the quality of life for people aged 65+.