THE nominees for the Cheshire Woman of the Year Award received their invitations to a charity lunch this week, where the winner will be announced.

The event will take place in the historic council chambers at Chester Town Hall on March 17, where this year's winner will be presented with a silver award and will be given a cheque for £1,000 to donate to a charity of their choice.

And Laura Leader, chief fundraiser for Hebden Green Special School, on Woodford Lane West, as reported in the Guardian a fortnight ago, is one of the 100 nominees who could triumph.

The prestigious event is now in its 14th year, during which time more then 1,000 have been honoured for their personal courage, community service or professional achievement.

Likely Lads star Bridgit Forsythe, who is currently appearing in the BBC's Playing the Field, will be the guest of honour at the event.

Penny Hughes, last year's winner and the youngest president of Coca Cola, will be the guest speaker.

The event, which has raised more than £95,000 for children's charities over the past 14 years, will again be sponsoring the NSPCC.

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