WINNING a top award was just the ticket for charity-minded Bolton travel agent Andrew Dickson.

Mr Dickson, who owns St Andrew's Travel, was amazed when he was named as the first recipient of the Tony Rink Award for Corporate Community Involvement.

With the title came a £2,000 donation, put up by the Bolton Evening News, for Mr Dickson to distribute to the charity of his choice.

It was a tough decision for delighted Mr Dickson as his company already supports dozens of local charities, but in the end he decided to give half the cash to Bolton Lads and Girls Club and donate £500 to both the Children's Hospital Trust and The Samaritans.

The award, presented at the Bolton and Bury Business Awards, is in memory of former Bury and Bolton Chamber chairman Tony Rink, who died in 1999.

The public was asked to nominate a business person who devoted time and energy to community initiatives.

Mr Dickson said he was "pretty gobsmacked" when he was announced as the winner.

"I never dreamt I had done enough to get it," he said.

"I want Bolton to be a better place to live, work and shop in -- and it will if everyone gets involved," he said.

ALL SMILES: Andrew Dickson with, from left, Bolton Evening News Business Development Manager Paul Wilde, Annie Aspinall of The Samaritans, Jerry Glover of Bolton Lads' and Girls' Club, Wynne Gibson of The Samaritans, and Liz Oakes of the Children's Hospital Trust