Yorkshire's heroes rewarded

Jane Tomlinson received a standing ovation

Charity fundraiser Jane Tomlinson and veteran broadcaster Michael Parkinson were among those honoured at the first Heart of Yorkshire awards ceremony.

A student from Selby, a foster mother from Leeds and a former professional boxer from Mexborough also received awards on Friday - Yorkshire Day.

More than 30,000 e-mail and postal votes were cast to choose seven heroes and heroines from across the region.

Winners received their trophies at a lunch at the Pavilions of Harrogate, organised by the BBC and Variety Club of Great Britain.

The Young Person of the Year accolade went to Jessica Osbourne, a full-time student from Selby who cares for her mother and brother who both have health problems.

I've got to play for Yorkshire, captain England - which will be the easier job - and buy Barnsley Football Club Lifetime Achievement Award winner Michael Parkinson

The Community Person of the Year was Janice Gray, who was responsible for rebuilding the Tong Hall community centre in York after it was destroyed by fire.

She said: "It feels wonderful. I never expected when we first set out and when I was first nominated that I was going to win it."

Pat Farrar, who has been a foster mother for more than 200 children in Leeds, was named Woman of the Year.

Speaking of her 20 years of fostering, she said: "I do what I do because I love it very much. To have something like this is just lovely.

"I feel very proud and very privileged."

Heart of Yorkshire Award winners Young Person of the Year - Jessica Osbourne Community Person of the Year - Janice Gray Woman of the Year - Pat Farrar Man of the Year - Tommy Joyce Team Award - the ladies of the Rylestone Women's Institute Special Award - Jane Tomlinson Lifetime Achievement Award - Michael Parkinson

Some of Yorkshire's original "Calendar Girls" were on hand to pick up a team award for their fundraising efforts.

The film telling the story of how the ladies of the Rylestone Women's Institute raised £500,000 for charity by posing nude goes on release in September.

A standing ovation was reserved for Jane Tomlinson as she picked up a special award for her achievements.

Despite suffering from terminal cancer, the mother-of-three, from Rothwell, near Leeds, has raised more than £100,000 for cancer research though a series of marathons and an epic bike ride.

Yorkshire's Man of the Year was awarded to another runner and cancer fundraiser, Tommy Joyce.

Michael Parkinson and Geoff Boycott were high profile guests

The former professional boxer, who ran 20 marathons in 20 days, said it felt "absolutely marvellous" to win.

The final award went to proud Yorkshireman and veteran broadcaster, Michael Parkinson.

The Barnsley-born interviewer picked up the Yorkshire Lifetime Achievement award.

Speaking to BBC Look North, he joked that despite his award he still had so "much left to do".

"I've got to play for Yorkshire, captain England - which will be the easier job - and buy Barnsley Football Club."

"It's very nice to have an award like this - a kind of summing up I suppose.

"There is a valedictory sense to it that I don't quite go with - I just keep ploughing on and don't have any intention of retiring at all."