A WOMAN from Newport has spoken of her “complete surprise” at having learned she has been nominated for a Pride of Gwent Award.

59-year-old Helena Antoniou from Duffryn in the city has been put forward for this year’s Environment Award by someone whose identity remains a mystery.

Mrs Antoniou, who works as a nurse, says that she has not been contacted by anyone in relation to the awards.

“I think it must be one of my neighbours,” she said.

“I’ll be knocking on doors later asking who it was.”

The nomination entry stated that Mrs Antoniou has been keeping her estate and the wider Duffryn area in Newport clear from litter for 10 years.

“Sometimes Helena has been able to recruit volunteers to help her with this work, but she will take on the task single-handedly if she needs to,” the entry continued.

Mrs Antoniou said that it was “nice to have been noticed”, but that there were others just as dedicated as her who were equally deserving of recognition.

“I feel a bit of a fraud,” she said.

“It’s not just me who’s doing it. There are about 30-40 of us.”

She explained how she had started out clearing the litter from her estate when she was approached by a member of the public who asked her “did you know there are other people doing this?”.

“Now we all work together,” she said.

“It’s started a huge environmental drive in Duffryn.

“It’s amazing to be so visible, people keep stopping to say thanks.”

Mrs Antoniou now works to keep the area clean alongside members of The Celtic Horizons Litter Pickers Group, The Woodlands Routes to Wellbeing Group, Duffryn Dusters and Keep Wales Tidy Team.

Suzanne Colwill, of Celtic Horizons Litter Pickers, said: “We are all winners here.

“I think every resident of Coedkernew and Dyffryn would agree with that. And if our community can achieve this, then so can other communities.”

There is still plenty of time for you to nominate someone who you think is deserving of recognition in this year’s Pride of Gwent awards.

Simply visit southwalesargus.co.uk/prideofgwent to nominate someone in this year’s awards, for free.

Nominations will close at 5pm on Friday, May 3.