THE deadline is looming for people and organisations to be nominated for this year's A Place to be Proud of Awards.

It's just over two weeks until the Friday, April 21, cut-off point for entries to the awards. This year's grand finale, at which the honours will be handed out, will be hosted by television and radio presenter Maggie Philbin.

Categories for the A Place to be Proud of Awards 2006

Creativity - sponsored by Wella UK Learning - sponsored by Lenovo Good Citizen - sponsored by Gazette Newspapers/Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Unsung Heroes - sponsored by Hampshire Constabulary/Basingstoke Andover North Hampshire Industrial Mission (BANHIM) Basingstoke Ambassador Award - sponsored by Sentinel Housing Association Business of the Year - sponsored by Clydesdale Bank Employee of the Year - sponsored by Eli Lilly

The awards, which are organised by Gazette Newspapers, Festival Place, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and the Local Strategic Partnership, are now in their third year. As in the previous two years, the awards evening will take place in Festival Place, but, this year, it will be held on a Sunday.

Maggie Philbin, who is a presenter on BBC Radio Berkshire, is urging nominators to get their entries in, and she added that she is looking forward to the July 16 event.

She said: "I am really looking forward to hosting the A Place to be Proud of Awards 2006. Events such as these awards help to remind everyone that Basingstoke is a thriving, prosperous and energetic community."

Jane Stewart, marketing manager for Festival Place, said: "The awards are a celebration of the people and organisations that are working towards making Basingstoke a better place in which to live and work.

"There is still time for people to get their nominations in, and the organisers look forward to receiving many more entries over the next two weeks."

People can nominate candidates for the awards by filling in the form inside the award entry guidelines booklets available from the Gazette Newspapers office in Church Street, Basingstoke, and the reception desks at the Civic Offices in Basingstoke, or in Festival Place.

Alternatively, forms can be downloaded from the borough council website www.basingstoke.gov.uk and the Gazette Newspapers website www.thisisbasingstoke.co.uk

Forms must be returned to the borough council or the reception desk in Festival Place by April 21. For more information on the awards, contact Michelle Morley, at the borough council, on 01256 845605.