Unsung heroes of the caring services have been recognised with special awards.

The nine awards, from the Oxfordshire Carers' Forum, have been given to those who have made a contribution beyond the normal call of their work.

Jan Richmond, a care assistant at Ladygrove day centre in Didcot, was praised for the care she gave to a woman suffering from a stroke.

Michelle Warren, a home care worker in Witney, was singled out for the help she gave to a family with a sick son.

Susan Washington, care co-ordinator at South Leigh, near Witney, has 30 years of caring work and has often stayed with terminally ill patients. Jane Aldridge, a community nurse in Didcot, was praised for her work with the town's Mereland Surgery.

Jenny Badger, a personal assistant in the Chipping Norton area, helped an elderly woman in the last two years of her life.

Fran Brooks, a support worker, and Anjanette Edner, co-ordinator with the Kingswood Trust at Henley, have supported a young man with learning disability in his own home.

All seven received Care Workers awards. Awards of Recognition were given to Sally Evans, speech and language therapist at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, and Tracy Gaffney, community nutritionist at Didcot Hospital.

The awards were presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Hugo Brunner, at the forum's annual meeting in County Hall, Oxford.

Forum chairman Pat Purkis said: "These awards are a small symbol of the gratitude the people of Oxfordshire owe them and the many others who do difficult, skilled and often unregarded work, day in and day out."

Story date: Saturday 27 November

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