The Voice rocker Rick Snowdon is a real role model in his Hartlepool hometown

The 29-year-old, from Foggy Furze, Hartlepool, told of his troubles when he appeared on BBC One’s The Voice.

He may not have made it to the live finals, but Rick inspired people to share their own stories.

Now he’s been nominated for Role Model of the Year in the Best of Hartlepool Awards.

Rick grabbed global attention after revealing he had locked himself in his house for more than four years after his weight ballooned to 26 stone, and that he used music and singing to spur him on to lose weight.

He said: “It feels amazing. After going on The Voice and sharing my story with the world, I think I expected that people wouldn’t really understand.

“But people have done the complete opposite thing to what I expected and come to me to share their stories.

“People stop me in the street to tell me I’ve done Hartlepool proud, and it just means the world to me.”

This year, the Best of Hartlepool competition is being held in association with Niramax and in which Specsavers, Stagecoach North East and Hart Biologicals are category sponsors. We are delighted to have every one of them behind us.

The deadline to put forward entries is Saturday, April 2.

So all we need now is plenty of people to come forward. To nominate, send your name, address and telephone number, the name of the business or person you wish to nominate, along with their address, telephone number and email (if known).

State which category your nomination applies to (from the list of categories) and provide a description of the reasons for your nomination (no more than 300 words)

Post your nomination to: Nicola Meldrum, Alexander House, Second Floor, Rainton Bridge Business Park, Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, DH4 5RA, or alternatively, email [email protected] or [email protected]