People from across Staffordshire are being asked to come forward to have their say on who should be crowned as the Fire Service Champion for 2017.

The awards are now entering their tenth year and seek to reward those who have made an outstanding contribution throughout the year in their role.

The awards in 14 different categories will be presented at a ceremony on Thursday, October 12.

The service is now wanting members of the public to nominate for the fire and rescue champion of the year award.

Nominations will be for someone within the fire service - either an individual or a team - who has gone beyond the call of duty to help people in difficult circumstances.

For the other 13 awards the recipients are nominated internally by fire service colleagues, again for people who they believe have gone the extra mile.

Becci Bryant, chief fire officer at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, says she believes that having a category where the public can show their appreciation for the people in the service is an important way to offering the service feedback on the work it does.

She said: "It is only right that nominations for this public-focused award are chosen by the public themselves, those who are at the very heart of the service and central to all we do.

Becci Bryant, the chief fire officer at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue service
Becci Bryant, chief fire officer at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

"We’re inviting you to nominate either an individual from the service or a team, basically anyone you want to say thank you to for making a valuable and positive contribution to your life.

"In times of trouble or distress we strive to provide our community with a service which is both professional and empathetic to the situation in hand.

"Across the service our staff are committed to helping our communities and we remain completely focused on being the very best we can be.

"From someone in fire control keeping a member of the public calm and reassured over the phone while an incident takes place, to support staff who go the extra mile to build valuable community relationships,and firefighters that show incredible bravery at incidents."

Applications for nominations close on Sunday, September 10.

Nominations can be made by filling in a form online at www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk.

All staff who do receive nominations will be invited to the award ceremony on Thursday, October 10.