A COMMUNITY thrives thanks to the good deeds of its residents, and in Thurrock we have community heroes in abundance.

When the owner of dog grooming company, Molly’s Grooming, decided to celebrate ten years of success, she wanted to help others.

As the owner of a dog grooming company, it was natural for Davina Barton to continue the theme by raising money for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

The party was a huge success. As a result, Davina and her supporters raised an incredible £2,700 to train guide dogs for blind people and to help with vet fees.

What a lovely gesture, that should serve to help visually impaired people stay safe for years to come.

You don’t have to look too hard to find more community heroes in the field of education.

In this week’s paper we name the finalists for this year’s Thurrock Education Awards.

Teachers make a career out of going the extra mile to help youngsters grow up to be happy and well-rounded individuals.

The fact that a record number of nominations were received this year shows that parents appreciate their efforts.

I’m sure every person named as a finalist thoroughly deserves to be praised for all the effort they put in to get the best out of our children.

Let’s hope they all enjoy their evening.