Barrow Christmas Lights Switch-on Star nominations revealed

Organisers of the annual event have shared the shortlist with the public now deciding who gets the honour of taking centre stage on the night.

Voting will be open until 6pm on Sunday, November 17, which will ultimately be decided by the number of likes each candidate gets on the Switch-on Facebook page.

The community heroes looking to get your support are:

• Lara-May Olliver - Aged seven, Lara-May has been buying clothes out of her own money all year to donate them to people in need.

• Barrow Foodbank - The organisation has been nominated for the hard work that the volunteers put in to make sure that families in the area have the help they need.

• Nathan Lippitt - Enthusiastically supporting Barrow, Nathan has been bringing visitors to the town with his shop and soap business.

• Oliver Goodings - The young boy has overcome talipes, Spina Bifida and dislocated hips to walk aided.

• Ethan Howitt - Living with autism, Ethan has been nominated thanks to his love of decorating the house with Christmas lights.

Nominees Irene Cannon (top left), Sarah Forster (bottom left), and Oliver Goodings (right) (Image: Submitted)

• Irene Cannon - The woman behind Furness Hedgehog Rescue, Irene earned the nomination for her selfless work over the years.

• Leo Pereira - Leo has been nominated for overcoming all obstacles thrown at him despite his autism diagnosis.

• Alfie McLeese - An avid supporter of Walney Community Centre, Alfie 'treats everyone how he'd like to be treated'.

• The Oliver Family - Rubie, age four, was born at 24 weeks, with her sister Amelia having also just been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and their brother Noah looking after them.

• Theo Troughton - Theo has been nominated for being the 'best big brother to his little sister' this past year.

• Neil Jones - Neil and his partner Emily Blowers have been fundraising for a new wheelchair after he suffered haemorrhagic strokes in April 2021.

• Walney Yellows - In July, the team members took part in a 12-hour charity football match, with all proceeds raised going to the Brain Tumour Charity.

Barrow Raiders star Luke Broadbent and 'unsung hero' Joe Wardman (Image: Submitted)

• Sarah Forster - Sarah has been nominated for raising awareness and money for Dandy Walker Hydrocephalus Warriors.

• Helen Caine - Helen has received the nomination for her continuous and selfless charity work.

• Bethany Haywood - Beth recently found herself in a situation where she helped an elderly woman who fell outside of her place of work.

• Luke Broadbent - The Barrow Raiders player has done a lot of community work in the community through delivering sports, chair-based exercise and disability groups.

• Dean McSkimmings - Organising various projects for Barrow families, Dean has dedicated himself to helping the less fortunate.

• Joe Wardman - Joe has been nominated for being an 'unsung community hero' and being a 'great, hardworking guy' who will do anything for others.

• Toby Johnson - Aged nine, Toby has faced a difficult year, with his baby brother facing two heart surgeries and one other major operation.