From Adrian Lane, Exeter 383262, April 22, 2008

DEVON County Council is looking for volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to voluntary community transport in the county.

The Devon Community Transport Volunteer Awards aim to recognise and raise awareness of volunteer work in the community transport sector and nomination forms are now available.

Councillor Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council Executive Member for Environment, said: "All of the community transport volunteers across Devon make a massive difference to the lives of those they help and we congratulate them on their dedication. We hope to receive plenty of nominations to recognise the time and effort of all of the volunteers."

The awards, which have been held annually by Devon County Council since 2000, aim to recognise and raise awareness of volunteer work in the transport sector and coincide with National Volunteer Week. This year they are being sponsored by home meals service provider Oakhouse Foods.

Simon Boulter, of Oakhouse Foods, said: "We see first hand the vital work that carers carry out on behalf of many of our customers, so we are delighted to support the Community Transport Volunteer Awards for 2008."

Anyone working voluntarily in the community transport sector can be nominated, and forms are sent to groups working in various areas of rural and community transport right across Devon.

The closing date for nominations is Friday 9 May. They will be assessed by a panel and 12 finalists will be shortlisted and invited to an award ceremony at Larkbeare House in Exeter on Friday 13 June.

The person considered by the judges to have made an outstanding contribution to Voluntary and Community Transport is selected as the 'Volunteer of the Year'. All the finalists receive a commemorative gift, with an additional prize for the volunteer of the year.

Nomination forms are available online at: www.devon.gov.uk/community_transport or by calling the Community Transport Team on 01392 382123.

Notes for Editors:

For more information contact the Media and PR Office 01392 383262.

Councillor Margaret Rogers 01297 680384.