BRADFORD Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

Cllr Hinchcliffe is down to the final six in the Leader of the Year category at the 2019 Cllr Achievement Awards.

The winner will be announced next month along with those successful in the other six categories.

Organisers, think tank The Local Government Information Unit, said they received nearly 250 nominations across England and Wales for the 10th annual awards, a record amount.

The Cllr Awards are designed to celebrate the work of councillors with winners selected by a group made up of local government experts and councillors.

Cllr Hinchcliffe has served as a Labour councillor for Windhill & Wrose since 2011 and was elected leader of Bradford Council in May 2016. She has been the chairman of West Yorkshire Combined Authority since 2017.

She told the T&A: “Together with my team I simply want the very best for the Bradford district and that drives everything we are trying to do.

"We are privileged to serve the people of this district, we won’t stop in trying to create better opportunities for all and to this day I still absolutely love working with the people of my ward and across the district who are doing amazing things. I’m grateful for being nominated but it’s a team effort.”

Jonathan Carr-West, chief executive, LGiU said: “For the tenth year, LGiU is proud to honour the hard work of councillors across England and Wales that so often goes unrecognised.

"This year’s shortlist is by far one of the most impressive we have seen to date, showcasing the achievements of the best and brightest councillors up and down the country.

"These councillors deliver for their communities in increasingly challenging and hostile times alongside severe budget constraints.

"Despite all of that and more, their determination and resolve has left their communities safer, stronger and healthier, thanks to their efforts."

Winners will be announced at the Cllr Achievement Awards ceremony taking place on November 5 at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in Westminster.