A COMMUNITY champion who has been honoured for her work in Burnley is set to lose her job as a result of government cuts.

Campaigners in South West Burnley, which comprises the Trinity and Rosegrove areas, as well as the Stoops, Griffin and Barclay Hills estates, decided to present the borough’s neighbourhood manager, Allison Kay-Porter with the first ever Peter Tarren Memorial Award in recognition of her achivements.

But Burnley Borough Council last night approved a proposal to axe the neighbourhood management team, meaning Allison will be out of a job by the end of March.

Residents said they wanted to thank the single mum-of-two who will be sorely missed in the area when she is made redundant.

Allison, who is from Shadsworth in Blackburn but now lives in Rishton, described the honour as ‘humbling and touching’.

The award was created this year in memory of 58-year-old Peter Tarren, a father-of-four and voluntary community worker, who in 2007.

Allison said: “It was very humbling and poignant for me because Peter’s wife Janet was there to present the award to me.

“It was very touching an lovely because I worked with Peter and Janet many times.”

In her role Allison has helped set up community groups and has also rolled up her sleeves to tackle issues such as litter, fly-tipping, youth nuisance, arson, underage drinking and drug dealing in areas including Chicken Hill Community Gardens and Harold Street, both in the Trinity ward.

She was involved in the ‘Worzel Rubbish’ project which involved youngsters turning litter into sculptures in the build-up to the Howard Street Flower Show.

Wendy Graham, of Trinity Action Group, said: “It’s unusual because this ward was going to be for members of the community who put their time and effort into helping their neighbours, but Allison has helped all of us.

"The choice just shows the strength of feeling there has been for us to give her this award.”