The judging has taken place for the Stars of Suffolk 2017 – and there is now little over two weeks before this year’s winners are revealed.

A panel of judges gathered at Hintlesham Hall Hotel yesterday to sift through scores of nominations for the 13 different categories.

These range from outstanding bravery to volunteer of the year – and each one was packed with inspirational nominations.

Event organiser Mick Parker, of Parker Communications, said: “We had some really fantastic entries and the judges had a tough job deciding who would go through to the final and, ultimately, win each category. We have got some outstanding finalists.

“The last decade has seen some incredible awards handed out to some amazing people – and this is going to be another fantastic year.

“The majority of people are staggered they have even been nominated, never mind win an award, so the atmosphere on the night is priceless.

“It’s going to be an emotional and wonderful evening and made up of real heroes.”

There will also be four other awards presented on the night – a special recognition accolade, lifetime achievement award, a special judge’s award, and for the first time an award recognising outstanding contribution to sport in Suffolk.

It was decided to introduce the new category after a high number of strong nominations in this field, and it is now likely to become a fixture in the awards in future years.

Those shortlisted as finalists will now be invited to the awards ceremony at Trinity Park, on the outskirts of Ipswich, on the evening of November 9, which will be hosted by BBC Radio Suffolk’s Mark Murphy.

Last year’s overall winner was the Teapot Project, based in Ipswich, which intercepts food destined for landfill and re-distributes it to those in need.

The headline sponsors of this year’s awards are Flagship Group, with category sponsors: Hintlesham Hall, Servest, Ipswich Town, Gasway, Ipswich Hospital, Ipswich Building Society, the EADT and Ipswich Star, Fred.Olsen, JLS Catering, Cipher Crystal, Suffolk County Council, Triinity Park, BBC Radio Suffolk, RFT Services, Hudson Signs, East of England Cooperative Society and Greshams.