It was a tough decision, but Cumbria's flood heroes have been whittled down to a shortlist.

The five judges spent a day locked in a room, debating and deliberating over scores of entries for the #SpiritofCumbria Awards.

Nominations came from across the county and for people of all ages and abilities.

The awards, run by CN Group, publisher of The Cumberland News, and supported by Sellafield Ltd and United Utilities, were launched to recognise those men, women and children who were the unsung heroes of December's devastating floods.

We asked for nominations for people who helped keep the county moving and supported those in their darkest days.

Marie Whitehead, from cnevents, chaired the judging and said it had been a day of debating.

"We were inundated with incredible stories of bravery, selflessness, generosity and good will," she said, "which made our judges' job almost impossible.

"Narrowing down the entries to a shortlist incredibly tough. The judges spent hours pouring over each nomination but, eventually, they managed to come up with the shortlist and subsequent winners."

The nominations were whittled down to a shortlist of 25, who have each been awarded tickets to see Rod Stewart in concert at Brunton Park, Carlisle, on Tuesday.

They - and nominees put forward separately by some of Cumbria's leading councils and charities - will attend a special awards evening at Garden @ Eden on Friday, July 1.