A FATHER who has given up hundreds of hours of his own time to run a ladsandads group has been named Bentilee Citizen of the Year.

Peter Bruce was one of a group of dads who set up Bentilee and District Dads' Group in 2004, and since then it has gone from strength to strength.

The group organises football games, day trips and other activities for boys and girls in the area.

Weekly events for elderly residents and disabled people are also run at the group's base in the former Chelmsford Drive Nursery School, each one attracting up to 70 attendees from Bentilee and further afield.

Peter, who is busy with the group on most weeknights, managed to take some time out to accept the Citizen of the Year award, which is organised by the Brookhouse and Ubberley Forum.

Peter, aged 54, of Aylesbury Road, Bentilee, said: "We set up the group as a way of allowing dads to spend more time with their kids. At the time there was nothing at all for youngsters to do in Bentilee.

"We now have a pensioners' dinner twice a week, and a group for disabled people over the age of 25. We've just set up a disabled group for under-25s as well.

"All the groups are well attended, so there is obviously a big demand for this sort of thing in Bentilee."

Peter first got involved with the group after a car accident left him suffering from epilepsy and depression, ending his career as a project manager.

His psychiatrist advised him to become more active in order to avoid sinking further into depression, and so Peter got together with 15 friends to set up the group.

They originally met in church halls and had no permanent base until 2006 when the group took over a nursery school, which was due to be demolished, and turned it into Beverley Drive Voluntary Centre.

The building has been refurbished and modernised, and an IT room is due to open at the end of February.

Peter, who has four grown-up children of his own, and 10 grandchildren, said: "I don't really expect any reward for what I do with the dads' group.

"I only found out I'd been nominated when someone called me up.

"I think the people who come to the group appreciate what we're trying to do.

"But what we really need is more funding. The group costs around £20,000 a year to run."

A lot of the funding currently comes from Stoke-on-Trent City Council, but Peter said he was hoping to attract a permanent sponsor.

John Davies, city councillor for Berryhill and Hanley East, was a judge for the award.

He said: "Peter was one of the nominees last year, and since then he has continued to work exceptionally hard for the people of Bentilee.

"He organises nights for disabled people and the elderly, as well as the young people of the area. He also arranges family events at the centre.

"Peter is definitely a worthy winner of the award."

Jean Mayer, who first set up the awards in 2003, has been a key member of the Bentilee community for decades.

She said it was important to recognise people like Peter who give up their time to help those around them.

Jean, aged 79, of Brackenfield Avenue, Bentilee, said: "From what I've heard about the things that Peter does, I think he is a very worthy winner of the award.

"The awards are a way of saying 'thank you' to people like Peter, and I think it is very important that we do say 'thank you'. They are our unsung heroes. Nobody really comes from the council or anywhere to thank them for what they do."

Anyone interested in sponsoring Bentilee and District Dads' Group should contact Peter Bruce on 07904 741474.