A FORMER first citizen of Fylde has been awarded the runner-up prize in a prestigious national competition.

Councillor Patricia Fieldhouse, Fylde Mayor 2001-2, was the runner-up in the Mayor of the Year Award, which scours the country for the mayor who has had the most exceptional year in office.

Out of nearly 100 local authorities Coun Fieldhouse was chosen as having made "one of the most outstanding contributions to her local area".

She attended 400 civic engagements during her mayoral year while continuing to run a home for adults with learning disabilities.

An awards spokesman added: "The awards panel, consisting of six judges, were particularly impressed with the tenacity of Councillor Fieldhouse who overcame her disability -- having undergone both knee and hip replacements -- to attend a large number of engagements, launch a major fund-raising initiative, run a full-time home for adults with learning difficulties and still find time to graduate with a BSc Honours degree in her mayoral year."

The awards were arranged by The Co-operative Bank, which will present Coun Fieldhouse with her award next month. She was pipped at the post by the Mayor of Newport.

David Dunn, the bank's senior manager of public sector and community development said: "To win this honour reflects the hard work and dedication that Patricia has shown in the role of mayor.

"As leading bankers in the local authority sector we appreciate the contribution made by mayors on a local level and are very pleased to be able to bring national recognition to Patricia who has achieved something very special during her term in office."

Coun Fieldhouse said: "To be selected as runner-up in the Mayor of the Year Award is a magnificent honour. It has been a privilege to serve the community and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of being Mayor of Fylde and will always have very fond memories of my year in office."