A Staffordshire Moorlands district councillor has been shortlisted in the 2021 Cllr Awards.

Cllr Joe Porter, who represents Brown Edge and Endon, is the only councillor from Staffordshire to be shortlisted and is nominated in the category of 'young councillor of the year'.

The Cllr Awards are the only national awards ceremony to celebrate the contributions of local councillors, and have been running for 12 years.

The organisation behind them, the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU), says councillors make a vital contribution to society which often goes unrecognised.

The average age of councillors across the UK currently standing at 59, so the category of young councillor of the year is designed to recognise those aged under 30 when they were last elected.

The organisers said: "Young people can face a particularly difficult task in overcoming barriers to becoming elected, such as conflicting time commitments from work, studies, or having a young family, as well as financial pressures.

"This award will recognise a councillor who was 30 or under when last elected and who has contributed significantly to their community and council during their time in office."

They added that the councillor who wins this category will demonstrate a commitment to working for the community, and have contributed to a key council project which benefits residents.

This year, more than 400 nominations (a record number) were received across seven different categories.

Cllr Porter commented: "I was honoured to be shortlisted for Young Councillor of the Year for my work to support vulnerable people and improve our local environment across the Staffordshire Moorlands.

"Many congratulations and best of luck to everyone who was shortlisted."

Cllr Porter received a Points of Light award from the prime minister last year for showing leadership during the pandemic.

The award acknowledged his 'Food for Endon' initiative, supporting vulnerable and elderly residents in rural communities.

Winners of the 2021 Cllr Awards will be selected by a panel of judges formed of senior councillors and officers plus stakeholders from across local government.

They will be announced at a ceremony on Wednesday 1st December in London, which will also be broadcast live on YouTube.