A BIG winner at the A Place to be Proud of Awards last year is encouraging people to get nominating for this year's prize-giving.

George Potten, 57, of Dryden Close, Popley, Basingstoke, won the Good Citizen award at last year's ceremony for his impressive voluntary efforts to rejuvenate his neighbourhood.

Mr Potten, who suffers from Parkinson's-related illnesses and is disabled following several strokes, came up with the idea of the Millennium Garden and followed it through to transform a mud patch into a tidy garden for his local community to share.

He said: "The award meant everything to me, and it was the icing on the cake after all the efforts of doing what I was trying to do.

"Knowing that people really appreciate what was done is important.

"It took me five years to get the garden project off of the ground and now it gets the community together - everyone helps keep it tidy."

Mr Potten, who has lived in Dryden Close for 35 years, got the backing of his local borough councillors Rob Donnelly and Jane Frankum.

Together, they got Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to stump up £15,000 towards the garden.

Mr Potten now has another scheme up his sleeve to improve his neighbourhood. He is planning a project to commemorate famous poets with big statues on an empty area of grass on Shakespeare Road.

About the awards, Mr Potten said: "People should go for it.

"The more people who get involved, the bigger it will become, and it's great for Basingstoke.

"It was a fantastic night - it's an achievement that I think everybody should aim for."

The A Place to be Proud of Awards ceremony will take place in Festival Place on the evening of Tuesday, June 7.

First published: Wednesday, March 30, 2005