A PANEL of judges has begun the difficult task of sifting through dozens of nominations for this year's Local Heroes Award.

Nothing has been decided yet but they have revealed that the standard of nominees for the Daily Echo-backed competition is higher than ever.

Now it is the unenviable task of judges at Ocean FM to choose the winner in each of the competition's five categories.

Spencer Kelly, one half of the radio

station's Breakfast Crew, will be compering the awards ceremony. He said: "The Ocean FM Local Heroes Awards is always a fantastic event and I am sure that this year will be no different."

Over the next few weeks, the Daily Echo will be featuring some of the unsung heroes people have nominated.

These will be people who have made a real difference to the lives of others.

Judges will then shortlist nominees before the winners are announced at the awards ceremony on

November 29 at the De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton.