Co-op Insurance and Neighbourhood Watch are searching for the North West’s best neighbour.

Residents are encouraged to nominate their favourite person who meets the criteria set out by the Co-op.

Entries will be judged on four criteria: looking out for each other, being sociable and friendly, being practically helpful, and kind, caring, and respectful.

Last year’s North West Neighbours of the Year were Christine and Jim Hartley from Thelwall, Warrington.

They were nominated by neighbour Pat for their caring behaviour and for turning a run-down pub into the heart of the community.

The pair had been running the Pickering Arms for three and a half years at the time of the award.

The couple are known for looking after keys, feeding cats, and giving lifts to those in the community.

They also arrange a monthly walking group for residents, a free Christmas lunch and bingo session for pensioners, and even deliver meals to the elderly who can’t get out easily.

John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch Network, said: “With so much focus recently on what divides us, it’s good to be reminded of the ordinary people who make our nation great.

“The kind, every-day deeds of neighbours help create safe, secure and happy neighbourhoods where people, families and communities thrive.

“That’s something we can all unite behind. I look forward to seeing the nominations to be reminded just how wonderful people can be.”

Last year was the inauguration of the awards and their success has caused the organisers to add an entirely new category.

The panel of judges will crown the UK Neighbour of the Year, regional winners of the title, and also a Community Spaces Champion.

This new award aims to celebrate someone who has shown commitment to either save, improve, or use a local space for the benefit of their community.

Winners could have done something small, such as setting up a sports match for their neighbours, creating a community garden, or setting up a support group.

The new category comes as Co-op partners with Locality, the national network for community organisations, to launch an Endangered Spaces campaign.

The partners aim to protect, support, and improve over 2,000 at-risk community spaces by 2022.

Caroline Hunter, Head of Home Insurance at Co-op said: “We’re really looking forward to seeing what the second year of this competition will bring.

“We know that people are doing great things as neighbours, and in their overall community, so we’re looking forward to hearing about these people and celebrating those neighbours who are doing things that are extra special in their community.”

Nominees can be put forward for either Neighbour of the Year, Community Space Champion, or both awards.

Entries will be accepted until Friday October 18. 

Nominations can be put in at https://www.co-opinsurance.co.uk/hub/neighbour-of-the-year/