THE NOMINATIONS are in for the St George's Day Awards and now preparations are underway for a festival to celebrate the day.

The Daily Echo has helped launch Southampton's City Council's St George's Day awards, which celebrate the people who make this city what it is.

The nominations have now closed and more than 20 people and groups who go out of their way to improve people's lives in the Southampton city region have been nominated.

The awards will be presented at a special St George's Day festival to commemorate the national day.

The festival is taking place at The 1865 in Southampton's Brunswick Square and will see an afternoon of free events including the premiere of short films from some Southampton residents, as well as the presentation of the council's awards.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, we have been looking for people to nominate residents who have been selflessly making the Southampton city area better.

The award categories are Biggest Improvement to Quality of Life in the Southampton City Region, Young Person or People who have Improved Life and Wellbeing in the Southampton City Region, Biggest Campaigner for Change in the Southampton City Region, Putting the Southampton City Region on the Map and a Local Unsung Hero.

Residents have been getting in touch to nominate their community champions, and everyone from health workers, homeless charities, campaigners and sports clubs have been put forward for their tireless and selfless work.

Cllr Satvir Kaur, who spearheaded the awards along with John Denham, the former Southampton Itchen MP, said: "It has been a really, really fantastic response and I am really pleased that so many people across our city have come forward and it is great that local communities want to shout about their local heroes.

"There are so many different volunteer groups and organisations that make Southampton great, who put a great deal into this city and St George's Day will bring them together.

"I am really looking forward to the event and really pleased that so many people have come up to me and said how much they are as well."

The St George's Day festival takes place on St George's Day, Saturday, April 23, from 4pm until 6pm.

For more information go to eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampton-st-georges-day-festival-2016-tickets-23791161003?aff=eac2.