Wendi Turner, 49, and June McGow, 52, have been nominated in the Good Neighbour category by Jennifer Weaver who has a business on the Fall Bank industrial estate, Dodworth.

She thinks the two ladies, both of Foxmire Grove, are deserving of the recognition because they spearheaded a campaign to stop a nickel processing plant being built on the industrial estate.

Jennifer, who runs More for Paws, said: "It came to our attention there had been a planning application put in for a nickel processing plant to be run from an old factory on the Fall Bank Estate.

"There are huge health risks linked with the heavy metal nickel and it grabbed my attention because it was going to affect our business, possibly to the point of having to shut down.

"We started campaigning against the application, however I quickly became aware efforts had already started to be made and I was directed to June and Wendi.

"By the time I got in touch they'd already done a lot of research on the company which had put the application in, the application itself, the planning process and the different ways it was going to affect residents in Dodworth and also the rest of Barnsley.

"They called public meetings to share information and to discuss the way forward. They got in touch with local councillors and key people in the area.

"They did all of this with no prior experience. Ultimately, the efforts these ladies made roused peoples' passion in their community and together we made enough noise that the company withdrew the application.

"They are great neighbours, not just to us for helping to save our business, but to everyone living in Dodworth.

"These ladies are very modest and I don't think they even know the impact their efforts have made to our community. They fully deserve this award."

June and Wendi said they were 'absolutely chuffed' to hear they had been nominated.

"It's absolutely tremendous," said June. "Even if we get nowhere it's just lovely to think someone has thought about us.

"I used to get up in a morning and think the plans were so ludicrous and wouldn't happen but then you start worrying it could go ahead and have to fight it all the way.

"It would have affected so many people. The responsibility on our shoulders was huge at times but it was all worth it."