Our Local Heroes are honoured

Life-saving teenagers, a mountain-climbing pensioner and a woman who beat back rioters from her shop doorstep were among those honoured at a ceremony celebrating unsung heroes in the Midlands.

Tears flowed as inspiring tales of bravery, dedication and strength were shared and rewarded at the annual Express & Star Local Heroes Awards, in front of a star-studded audience at Molineux.

Click on the image on the right to see more pictures from the event.

Before the likes of Wolves boss Mick McCarthy, this year's Grand Theatre panto queen Linda Lusardi and Wolverhampton cycling legend Hugh Porter, 17 people from all walks of life were honoured with awards for bravery or their special contribution to society as well as their own personalised Express & Star front page.

The ceremony was hosted by Black Country historian, Professor Carl Chinn, who praised the recipients for their "courage and determination".

This year's winners were South Staffordshire organist Jean Martyn; Wolverhampton hairdresser Louise Johnson; police officers Kirstie Brooks, Cassandra Owen and Andrew Higgins; 91-year-old Allen Birch, from Bewdley; Wolverhampton plasterers Dane Edwards and Gary Banks; Jasmine Page, from Halesowen, and the three school staff who saved her life when she collapsed - Patrick Quigley, Yvonne Talbot and Sue Detheridge; Tipton marathon man Karl Hinett; Wollaston student Ben Hudson; Laura-Jade Thacker, from Walsall; and Kidderminster paperboys Declan and Rhys Williams.

After enjoying a festive three-course meal, the ceremony began after a speech by Birmingham Midshires' Paul Baker and Express & Star assistant editor Mark Drew.

Mr Drew said:?"Today is about ordinary people who every day do extraordinary things, without fuss or any kind of reward," said Mr Drew, who praised the winners' "courage, determination and selflessness".

Among those honoured was fearless mother-of-four Louise Johnson, 52, who stood guard outside her Wolverhampton city centre hair dressing salon, in Queen Street, as gangs of rampaging thugs looted and trashed shops in the road during the summer riots.

"I just told them they're not having my shop," she told the ceremony, during which Carl Chinn labelled her an "outstanding citizen".

"I brought up four children on my own - I don't back down for them so I wasn't going to back down for anyone else".

Speaking afterwards, she added: "It has been lovely - I didn't expect all this.

"I didn't feel scared at all about facing the mob. I was just scared I was going to lose everything - seeing what they were doing to other shops - and I couldn't just let them do that to me too."

Meanwhile, plucky pensioner Allen Birch was recognised for his fundraising walks having tackled the 3,560ft Snowdon mountain four times since his 86th birthday, raising almost £16,000 for various good causes. The great-grandfather, from Wribbenhall, Bewdley, told the ceremony he had started walking after his wife died as a way of keeping himself active.

"This really shows appreciation for what I'm doing for charity - it's very encouraging," he said after being handed the award from Hugh Porter MBE and Wolves defender Richard Stearman.

One story that had the audience reaching for the tissues was that of 13-year-old Laura-Jade Thacker, whose quick and calm reactions helped to save her mother Debbie Lake's life when she slipped into a diabetic coma.

"I had to do what I had to do to save my mum," she said tearfully, describing how she rang the ambulance and administered life-saving first aid to her mother, who had dangerously high blood-sugar levels and collapsed at their home in Walsall.

"It was really scary but it's nice to get the award."

Also among the award winners were quick-thinking plasterers Gary Banks and Dane Edwards. They were working on a flat in Warstones when they noticed 26-year-old epilepsy sufferer Michael Booth fall to the floor, and dropped everything to rush to his aid. Michael, 26, was treated at New Cross Hospital for a shattered jaw and two broken cheekbones. He lost teeth in the fall.

Wolves supporter Gary, from Eastfield, who turns 50 today, said he felt "humbled".

"We don't think of ourselves as heroes. We didn't do that much but if we did enough, I'm glad," he said after collecting his award from former Linda Lusardi and Wolves' weekend goalscorer Steven Fletcher.

"It was a brilliant day - just to see all the other people who have done amazing things was a real honour," added Dale, 42, of Tettenhall.

Teenager Ben Hudson, 17, helped save schoolgirl Chloe West's life when she was attacked by knife-wielding Samuel Gayzer-Tomlinson in April outside the gates of Ridgewood High School in Wollaston, Stourbridge.

She was stabbed 20 times before Ben rugby-tackled Gayzer-Tomlinson to the ground, suffering injuries himself when the 19-year-old, who was sentenced to 13 years behind bars in October, turned on him.

Ben, who is also a Wolves fan, said it had been "brilliant" to meet some of his heroes, including manager Mick McCarthy.

He said:?"People always say they hope they would like to think they would do something in that kind of situation. I would like to think I would do it again but I didn't really think about what I was doing. I'm very honoured just to be considered."

Pastoral manager Patrick Quigley and secretaries Yvonne Talbot and Sue Detheridge were honoured after leaping into action when 12-year-old Jasmine Page had a heart attack in January, keeping her alive for four minutes until paramedics arrived to take over.

Jasmine also received an accolade for her courage after undergoing a heart transplant that has now transformed her life.

"Getting this award is fantastic - but seeing Jasmine back at school is the best prize ever," said Mrs Detheridge, 49, of Halesowen.

Twin brothers and paperboys Declan and Rhys Williams, aged 15, spent a month riding more than 700 miles through Tibet and Nepal to the Mount Everest base camp. The teenagers, along with father Stuart, smashed their fundraising target for soldiers' charity Help for Heroes by raising more than £2,000.

"It's great - we wouldn't have thought we would be given an award for doing our hobby," said Declan, who attends King Charles I School, in Kidderminster, along with his brother.

"There were people there who saved lives - I can't believe we were there too," added Rhys.

West Midlands Police officers Kirstie Brooks, Cassandra Owen and Andrew Higgins received the award for tackling two gunmen. The three were ordered to the scene of a burglary in progress in Vicarage Road, All Saints, Wolverhampton, and split up to cover the front and back of the house.

Pc Brooks feared she would be shot dead when one of the thugs put his gun to her head, while Pc Higgins kicked the gun from a second suspect's hand when he tried to threaten Pc Owen as they grappled on the ground.

"It's overwhelming – we were just doing our jobs," said PC Higgins, 28. "Compared to what some people have done I don't consider myself a hero," added PC Brooks, 35.

Former soldier Karl Hinett, who overcame severe burns after his tank was petrol bombed in Iraq to launch a marathon charity fundraising mission, announced as he received his award he has extended his aim from 52 marathons in a year to 100 by the end of next year, in aid of Selly Oak Hospital. He has raised around £6,000 so far.

"I just wanted to help the heroes who work there - if it wasn't for them and their patience I wouldn't be able to do half the stuff I can do now," said the 24-year-old, from Tipton.

"They don't get to take a break from that work and I wanted to do everything I could for them."

By far the most rousing of stage appearances - and the most colourful, sporting a sparkly multi-coloured blouse - was Brewood organist and Britain's Got Talent finalist Jean Martyn.

She was honoured for her charity fundraising efforts, which have been totted up to top £40,000 over 31 years.

"I feel very humble - there was such a spectrum of people being awarded, some who have done charity work and some who have saved lives, and it was a real honour," said the 60-year-old, who treated the audience to a rendition of the 'Britain's Got Talent boogie' after accepting her award.

Manager McCarthy, who has attended the awards every year since joining the club in 2006, said he had found the speeches "emotional".

"I was sat with Ben, who dived in to protect someone from a knife with no thought for his own safety, and I was close to tears when I heard Laura-Jade's story," he said.

"All of them were marvellous. Things like these awards are so important for the community."

Striker Fletcher, who scored Wolves' two winning goals on Sunday, added: "It's nice to come and see people doing things for each other. I'm just scoring goals, but they are saving lives, and that's something."

The Express & Star Local Hero awards are run annually in conjunction with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham Midshires to honour the region's great and good.