WHEN it comes to working tirelessly for worthy causes, a Winsford school's fundraiser is one of the best in the county.

Laura Leader, chief fund-raiser, for Hebden Green Special School, on Woodford Lane West, has been nominated for the Cheshire Woman of the Year Award.

And she will attend a lunch at Chester Town Hall, in March with 100 other finalists, when the winner will be presented with a £1,000 cheque for the charity of her choice.

The Cheshire Woman of the Year award rewards community spirit, professional achievement or personal courage which deserves recognition.

And Laura, who lives in Oakmere, is a worthy nominee having worked tirelessly in recent years to raise enough cash to buy vital new equipment for Hebden Green, where her son Mathieu is a pupil.

She organised a ball at the Grosvenor Centre Hotel in Chester, last September, which was a huge success, raising £6,000 and has managed to get valuable sponsorship from local businesses.

Most recently, thanks to Laura's efforts, Hebden Green was chosen as Oulton Park Racing Circuit's charity of the year.

Laura said: "I am really shocked at being nominated for the award and I have no idea who put my name forward.

"I don't suppose for a minute that I will win the award but I am really looking forward to the lunch at Chester Town Hall. It should be a nice day out."

Andrew Farren, headteacher at Hebden Green, said: "I think Laura's nomination is brilliant. She has worked really hard on behalf of the children.

"The money she has helped raise runs into the tens of thousands. The ball she organised at the Grosvenor in Chester raised £6,000 alone and a mini bus was presented to the school largely because of her efforts.

"The school's fundraising is done by a number of people, though Laura is one of the leading lights and everyone at Hebden Green is very grateful for all the work she has done."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.