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John is to receive the Sport England Volunteers Incentive Programme (VIP) award for going above and beyond the call duty to help the Team Manchester cycling squad set up their own website.

The cycling club, which draws members from across the north west and beyond, nominated John for his support in helping to launch and develop the site hosted by northmanchester.net.

Team Manchester official Gina Upex praised John for his support in a venture she admits she might otherwise have given up on.

She said: "I'd been hoping to set up a website for months but was about to give up when I received a letter from John 12 months ago inviting us to take space on northmanchester.net.

"I emailed him but I didn't have a clue how to get started. He replied straight away and, step-by-step, talked me through it over email. Then, if I had a problem, he was really good.

"There are so many organisations now offering free webspace but if you don't know what you're doing, it's not much use. John was there to help whenever I needed it.

"The site's now such a valuable service to members and others interested in cycling, we couldn't do without it now. It's even gained us new members."

Web space on northmanchester.net is available to all local organisations with support from the northmanchester.net team which John said, is all in a day's work.

He said: "This has come as a complete surprise. I'm always happy to help groups set up websites on northmanchester.net."