The search for sport's Unsung Hero, sponsored by Robinsons, is taking place across the United Kingdom. It will see winners initially named in the following BBC areas:

Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, East, East Midlands, London, North East & Cumbria, North West, South, South East, South West, West, West Midlands, Yorkshire, East Yorkshire & Lincolnshire.

Bursaries of up to �2,500 are available to winners of each regional award, to help them with their work in sport.

Boxer Amir Khan officially launched the awards in September.

Sporting greats Darren Gough, Colin Jackson and Dame Mary Peters are among other regional ambassadors.

The Unsung Hero from each area will be announced at the region's own sports awards, with events taking place in late November and early December.

They then go forward to the star-studded BBC Sports Personality of the Year programme, where an overall winner will be named.

The popular annual show, live on BBC One, is being broadcast from the NEC in Birmingham on 9 December (1900 GMT).