PASSIONATE Portonians are on the lookout for a special person who goes the extra mile for their community as they launch a brand new award. 

Port Glasgow West Community Council is setting up a scheme to recognise the contribution of the unsung heroes who fight to make their town a better place.

The community council is also reaching out to schoolchildren at both high schools to design a logo for the prize, which will also become the community council's official letterhead.

Chairman Tommy Rodger said: "Phase one of our project is to have Port Glasgow High and St Stephen’s High art students to design our award logo.

"We have met with arts teachers from both schools and are very pleased that the logo project will form part of pupils' academic course marks.

"We are inviting young Portonians to show us what they creatively and imaginatively believe to be an iconic definition of our town."

The second phase will see nominations of Port residents for the prize,

They must be engaged in a non-waged volunteering commitment that benefits Port Glasgow residents and the town as a whole, and external judges will be asked to choose the best candidate.

Jim McIlhinney, treasurer with the community council, said: "When we were planning the project, I felt that getting young people involved was a positive way forward.

"These are our community councillors of the future."

The best design will be judged by the community council, advised by Karen Orr of RIG Arts.

There will be a cash prize for the winner, with the fund matched by the Tesco Extra store.

Nomination forms will be made accessible on the Port Glasgow West Community Council Facebook page and website and can be emailed to pgwestcommunitycouncil@gmail.com

Those that have no online access can pick up paper copies of the applications forms and drop boxes will be in place in Port Glasgow Library, 7 ½ John Wood Street Centre and Carnabys Hairdresser in the town centre cross at Church Street and King Street.

Pictured from left are Tommy Rodger, Shaun Forsyth, of St. Stephen's Arts department and Jim McIlhinney. No-one was available from Port Glasgow High for our photocall.