Pensioner Jean Bolton has been acclaimed as a 'Neighbour from Heaven'.

The 75-year-old retired hospital worker scooped the award from South Bradford Community Housing Trust for her unstinting work in helping others.

She was nominated by four people for the award which celebrates community spirit.

Mrs Bolton, of Maxwell Road, Buttershaw, did not know she had won the award until she was presented with a trophy and £100 of shopping vouchers by South Bradford CHT chairman Andrew Wilson at an awards night.

Mr Wilson said: "Jean is a real inspiration to others. She is a very active pensioner who gives invaluable help and support to many people on the Buttershaw estate.

"Jean and all those residents nominated show the strong community spirit that exists in our neighbourhoods and as a caring organisation we want to celebrate their contribution."

Doris Vasey was among those who nominated Mrs Bolton and has known her for 18 years.

She said that despite being well past retirement age Mrs Bolton was always on the move - caring for people who have been ill, doing people's shopping, taking neighbours' dogs for walks and helping to take their wheelie bins out for collection.

The friends first met soon after Mrs Vasey moved into the area. Like with so many other new faces in the neighbourhood, Mrs Bolton knocked on the door of her home in nearby Buttholme Gate, to welcome her to the area.

"Jean is a very good-hearted person," said Mrs Vasey, 79.

"She would do anything for anybody. She has been looking after a woman who has had cancer and who has been having chemotherapy. She will go to the shops for anybody and even carries heavy bottles of pop and potatoes from town.

"If anyone is poorly, Jean will go to the chemist for them. She is always out and about doing things for people. I cannot walk and she helps me out with my shopping. It doesn't matter what the weather is like - she will go to the supermarket and do people's shopping.

"She really deserves the award. She was thrilled to bits with the award because she didn't expect it. She is a very pleasant person and she has been doing this for years."

Mrs Bolton said: "I have been living in these bungalows for nearly 16 years and have been doing it for all these years. I was brought up in a convent and now I only have one sister so I help out other people.

"I was shocked to get the award but very pleased. I will help anybody and still have plenty of 'go' in me. I have always looked out for other people. I take out rubbish bags, do people's washing, shopping and go to the chemist."

Mrs Bolton, who used to work as a ward orderly at Bradford Royal Infirmary, has already received 200 Christmas cards this year from friends and neighbours.

She was chosen as winner of the award from a short-list of 11 nominees.

South Bradford CHT executive director Joan Hearne said: "It has been a very difficult decision choosing one person among so many deserving community heroes.

"My congratulations to Jean and everyone who has taken part. The Neighbour from Heaven campaign just shows why South Bradford is such a special place to live."