WOMEN of achievement from across Lancashire gathered at the Mytton Fold Farm Hotel, Langho, for a glittering awards ceremony.

The Lancashire Woman of the Year title was awarded to Violet Carter, 73, of Ribbleton, a voluntary community worker in deprived areas of Preston -- but 11 of the 20 nominees were from East Lancashire.

The ceremony was attended by more than 200 people, including nominees, their families and friends, and civic leaders.

East Lancashire nominees included Gill Armer, of Lower Heights Farm, Bolton-by-Bowland, who runs the award-winning Gisburn Auction Mart cafe; Patricia Batt, of Roe Greave Road, Oswaldtwistle, who was diagnosed with severe arthritis at 16 but, despite constant pain and surgery, has raised three children; and Anne Cheetham OBE, of Gincroft Lane, Edenfield, chairman of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Magistrates Bench.

Blackburn financial accountant Patricia Coll was also nominated for her work as North West president of the Soroptimists and the Motor Neurone Society, along with Helen Colley, 36, who started Farmhouse Fare in her mum's kitchen and now supplies her mouth-watering puddings to supermarkets across the country. Lynn Dunning, head of Darwen Vale High School, who has just completed her year as UK president of the Soroptimists; Jan Grafius, curator at Stonyhurst College; and Janet Hill, of Meadow Way, Bacup, who has fostered 73 babies and young children, were also nominated.