Bolton Hospice has been honoured at this year’s business awards for its work in the community.

The honour was handed down at a ceremony held last week at the Bolton Whites Hotel.

The hospice was given the Heart of the Community Award in recognition for all the work its staff and supporters go.

Chief Executive Leigh Vallance said: "It's been amazing and so many incredible businesses are doing wonderful things so to be selected out of all the competition is truly humbling."

Bolton Hospice has been at the centre of a campaign to help keep it going in recent months amid concerns over its funding and finances.

 Opening the event last week Bolton News regional editor Richard Duggan highlighted to hospice campaign and the campaign held in aid of food banks to keep children fed over the summer as examples of the newspaper and businesses coming together to support those in need.

Mr Duggan noted the economic uncertainty over the last year but told the audience that "it's not all doom and gloom", referencing King Charles and Queen Camilla's visit to the town centre earlier this year.

Council leader Nick Peel told the audience that he believed event like these were ideal ways to celebrate and support the borough’s economy.

He said: “We have a lot to celebrate. Bolton’s annual economic output is £4.6bn a year, our excellent transport links put 60 per cent of UK businesses within two hours of Bolton, and developments like Logistics North mean more and more big names are choosing to base themselves in our borough.”

He added: “It is absolutely right that we take the time to celebrate and champion the many outstanding businesses which contribute so much to life in Bolton.

“There has never been a better time to do business in Bolton.”