VOTING is now open to determine the winner of a prestigious award from the borough's first citizen.

Councillor Mohammed Hanif has announced the four nominees who will battle it out to receive the Mayor's Award.

He is now urging people to go online and vote for the person/group they feel most deserves to take the award home after this year's Mayor's Civic Awards.

Nominees include the award-winning film maker Rose Cook, who produced a documentary on Dudley born football hero Duncan Edwards.

She is now planning a number of activities to mark the 60th anniversary of Duncan’s death in the infamous Munich air disaster - which eventually killed the Busby babe - and travels on cruise ships promoting the Black Country’s tourism from the history to the highlights today.

Keith Stroyde, who runs Vine and Branches Netcafe in Lye, is also in the running, for his work to support dozens of people in need each week.

Through the café, he offers assistance on a range of issues including accessing email, job application and CV building and help accessing the housing system.

Another contender is The Diyya Project, which provides help and support to tackle isolation amongst women and teenage girls in the borough’s Muslim community.

The group aims to provide affordable activities to help improve the quality of life of women and children building stronger communities.

Shaz Saleem, a charity fundraiser and chairman of the Dudley Private Hire and Taxis Association, is also hoping to pull in enough votes for the win.

The 30-year-old not only supports drivers on legal matters and helps to promote safety in the service but has also spearheaded charity drives helping to raise thousands of pounds for worthy causes.

Cllr Hanif said: “I have met some incredible people in my duties as Mayor of Dudley and it was very difficult selecting just four for the Mayor’s award.

"I am delighted to be able to share the opportunity to celebrate the work they do in this borough through the Mayor’s Civic Awards, but it is up to the people who eventually wins the award."

To vote, visit www.mayorofdudley.org.uk/the-mayors-award.

Nominations for the other six categories are now closed and the winners will be chosen by a judging panel over the next few weeks.

They are the Duncan Edwards award for sport, the Cedric Hardwicke award for arts, the Frank Foley award for community spirit, the Thomas Attwood award for education, the Mike Holder award for business and the William Shenstone award for environment.

The winners and runners-up will be presented with their prize, which is a bespoke piece of glass designed by Stourbridge glass artist Allister Malcolm and a certificate by the Mayor of Dudley, at the Mayor’s Ball and Civic Awards at the Copthorne Hotel, Brierley Hill in March.