BOLTON walked away with triple honours at the annual Fusion Awards.

Volunteers, charity champions and entrepreneurs from across the North West gathered in Blackburn’s King George’s Hall for the event.

The awards aim to celebrate community cohesion and the contribution of all communities in helping to make the region a better place to live and were hosted by ITV presenter Sam Ali Khan.

Categories include Community Group of the Year, Community Cohesion Award, Man of the Year, Woman of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Youth Leadership Award and the Public Service Award.

Bolton’s aspiring cricketer Nalisha Patel was presented with the Kumon Achievement in Sport Award 2015.

Nalisha, aged 17, was part of the Lancashire women’s team to win the Division Two championship in 2014. She said: “I am just shocked to be honest and didn’t think l would win, with cricket not being a very female dominated sport. I think the game is up and coming now. It is important for young girls to realise there are opportunities now to be making a career out of playing cricket. Or just to have fun playing cricket too.”

The Bolton Hindu Asian Initiative (BHAI) was named UCLan Community Group of the Year.

The group's Ila Kothari said: “It is amazing I am absolutely shocked. We were not expecting this at all.We have been working hard to get it from nothing to a place where people can come and meet.

“We provide a friendly atmosphere. We have got a lot of facilities now and make it a place where everyone can meet.”

Asif Timol and Salman Bariwala of Room Four Dessert, Deane, collected the much coveted Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The two businessmen's new-style coffee shop and dessert parlour idea has expanded in a short space of time seeing them launch a second branch in 2015.

Asif said: “We are not very often lost for words. This was a big surprise especially when we saw the fellow finalists we were up against. We were quite laid back about it and we thought we didn’t stand a chance. It is very humbling to receive this. It is lovely to get this recognition at such an early stage in our business.”

A student who could speak little English when she came to the UK from Syria but now sits at the top of her class was presented with the UTC Bolton Education Achievement Award.

Aysha, who is now fluent in English, said, “I am really honoured for receiving the award. I want to thank Pleckgate High School for their support and UTC Bolton for supporting the Education Achievement Award. The motivation I got was from my family and my father – he has always supported and encouraged me.”

The ConnectUK team who are hoping to raise funds for the East Lancashire Hospice were the official charity at the event this year.