There are just a few days left for you to nominate someone special for an award - whether they are a talented young person or dedicated volunteer.

Entries for this year’s Merton Civic Awards close on Thursday, May 21, so if you don't nominate them now it will be too late.

For the past few months entries have arriving for the nine categories - but we don't want any unsung hero in the borough to miss out.

Among the nominations so far are special teachers who go the extra mile for their students, people who have triumphed over a wide variety of difficult circumstances and others who give up their time to help others selflessly.

Life-savers who brush off their heroic actions and business people who have raised thousands of pounds for charity are all in the running for this year’s awards.

The categories are: Community, Business of the Year, Teacher of the Year, Parent/Carer of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Young Person’s Achievement, Sporting Achievement, Arts and Entertainment and Act of Courage.

There will also be an overall mayor of Merton’s Award for outstanding achievement.

So far the most popular category has been Community, with 24 nominations already.

Young Person’s and Sporting Achievements are lagging behind in terms of nominations with just four people in each category so far.

See a selection of the nominees here. 

But there is still time to nominate someone special.

Wimbledon Guardian editor Sean Duggan said: "We have had some amazing entries for this year’s awards.

"But I am really hoping that we get a lot more in the next few days so that more of the borough’s unsung heroes get a little of the recognition they so richly deserve."

Judging will take place on Friday, June 5 by a panel of judges made up of people from the Wimbledon Guardian, Merton Council and sponsors Antoinette Hotels, Holiday Inn Express, Bespoke Productions, Merton Means Business, Better.org, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and McDonald’s Centre Court.

People shortlisted for an award will be invited to an awards evening at the Antoinette Hotel in Wimbledon on Wednesday, July 15.

The winners and those highly commended in each category will be announced on the night.

To nominate someone, visit www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/mertoncivicawards and fill out a form, or use the form in this week's paper and send it in by post.