A VOLUNTEER who has helped more than ten charities has been named a local hero in an Asda superstore award ceremony.

Store manager Stuart Smart said Joe Wright, of Aintree Drive, Lower Darwen, stood out from the other ten contestants who were nominated by customers and staff at the Blackburn store.

A panel of local people, including Lancashire Evening Telegraph deputy editor Alan Simpson and Blackburn with Darwen councillor Florence Oldfield, chose Joe to receive the award at a ceremony at the store.

Stuart said Joe worked with local and international charities, and said: "He looks out for opportunities to help instead of just waiting to be asked." Joe, who works at Crown Paints, Darwen, designed a wallpaper based around the Romanian alphabet to help stimulate children at orphanages, then persuaded his firm to manufacture it and for another company to distribute in Romania.

He was also involved in recycling projects with local businesses, using unwanted materials that would otherwise be thrown away to help charities.

Joe was given a certificate and a cheque for £100 for his favourite charity, which will he plans to use to sponsor two Romanian children for a year.