Record numbers have been nominated for the Mayor’s Civic Awards in Dudley.

More than 80 people have been put up for accolades, prompting Dudley Council to extend the deadline for nominations by a week to February 6.

The awards are divided into four categories, each of them having been named after borough greats – the Duncan Edwards award for sport, the Cedric Hardwicke award for arts, the Frank Foley award for community spirit and the Thomas Attwood award for education.

A separate Mayor’s award will be decided by public vote from a shortlist hand-picked by Mayor of Dudley Councillor Ray Burston.

Councillor Burston said: “We have had a great response to this year’s Mayor’s Civic Awards but would like to give residents an extra week to nominate someone they know who goes above and beyond what is expected of them to make things happen.”

The winner and one runner-up in each category will be announced in early March. They will be presented with a trophy and certificate by Councillor Burston later that month.

Four outstanding people the mayor has met in the course of his civic engagements will be shortlisted before the winner is decided by an on-line vote. A judging panel will decide the winners of the other four categories.

For the first time people can nominate using the digital television service DigiTV, which is available to anyone with a digital television and involves filling in the interactive form using their remote control. People can also nominate at www.dudley.gov.uk or pick up a nomination form from borough libraries.

People should post completed forms to Mayor’s Civic Awards nominations, Marketing and Communications Unit, Dudley Council, FREEPOST MID22308, Dudley, DY1 1BR by February 6.