Hundreds of entries have flooded in for the inaugural Avon and Somerset Community Policing Awards.

By the closing date on New Year's Eve there had been 390 nominations across all five categories, and from across the Avon and Somerset force area.

The tough challenge now awaiting the judges is whittling that list down to winners for each of the six police districts as well as choosing the overall Avon and Somerset winners.

The awards are designed to recognise the exceptional contribution that individual neighbourhood beat managers, police community support officers, special constables (volunteers) and neighbourhood teams have made to their communities.

Dr Moira Hamlin, chairman of the Police Authority, said: "The response from the public to these new awards has been excellent, and shows that neighbourhood teams are making a real difference to the communities they serve.

"The awards evening in March will be a chance to formally recognise their hard work and dedication and should be an excellent evening."

Each category will have a winner for each of the six police districts (Bristol, Bath and North-East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset West and Somerset East) as well as an overall force winner.