THE brightest stars in the South West will gather tonight to celebrate their contribution to the community.

This year's fifth and final Evening Times Community Champions Awards will take place at Govan Fire Station.

Among those set to attend are groups and individuals who have worked for many years to ensure their community is a better place for people to live.

They have been selected from dozens of worthy entries from Ibrox to Darnley to be shortlisted for one of eight awards.

The categories include Team Award, Individual Award, Public Service Award, Uniform Services Award, Senior Award, Young Award, Health and Wellbeing Award and Sport Award.

This year the finalists include the South West Car Scheme, which was set up in 2012 by local volunteer drivers to take residents to doctor and hospital appointments, and the Alzheimer Scotland Allotment, which gives people experiencing memory loss and dementia a chance to enjoy gardening.

Also in the running are members of the South West Taster Programme, at Glasgow Clyde College, and Pollokshaws Coffee Break community cafe. Bellahouston Road Runners, a club with more than 150 members, and The Friends of Rosshall Park are also among the hopefuls.

In total 24 local individuals and groups are in the running for an award.

On Thursday December 5 all the winners from the different areas will come together for the Grand Final at Glasgow City Chambers.

This year's campaign kicked off at Bridgeton Community Learning Campus, with events also held at North Glasgow College, Drumchapel Community Centre and Castlemilk Fire Station.

To date, we have hosted 44 events around Glasgow.

At last year's South West Glasgow ceremony more than 200 people descended on Pollok Community Centre to meet the finalists.

matty.sutton@ eveningtimes.co.uk