POPULAR community nurse Linda Sutcliffe has been nominated for a top award, in recognition of her tireless work for patients in her care.

Mrs Sutcliffe (46), who lives in Hamilton Park, Downton, is one of a team of seven community nurses working for the doctors in the Downton and Whiteparish surgeries.

She has been nominated for the Dettol Community Nurse of the Year Award 2004 launched in June and which rewards exceptional achievements, dedication and excellence given by thousands of health visitors, midwives and community nurses across the UK.

Mrs Sutcliffe has been nominated by her daughter, Lottie (19), who said her mother had shown compassion and dedication even through hard times of her own.

Lottie said: "Mum is hugely popular with her patients and gets cards and gifts from them on her birthday.

"She always has time for them and they often phone for a chat if they're feeling a bit down."

As well as her work as a community nurse, Mrs Sutcliffe is a tireless fundraiser for Cancer Research UK and many other charities.

She has run the Race for Life and done the London Moonwalk twice and helped to raise funds to buy a new electric wheelchair for one patient.

Mrs Sutcliffe, who has been a community nurse for more than ten years, said she was very much part of a team.

"There are seven of us looking after between 250 and 300 patients in the two villages and surrounding area and, although I am deeply touched at being nominated, I am part of a team working under District Sister Jane Warne."

Mrs Sutcliffe is married to Michael, who works in the pathology department at Bournemouth hospital and, in addition to Lottie, they have a son, Dominic (18), and another daughter, Abi (15).

At the end of this month, a shortlist of 30 candidates will be selected and their stories will appear on the Dettol Community Nurse of the Year website giving the public the chance to support their choice of winner.

After the public vote, a shortlist of finalists will be submitted to a team of specialist judges, who will select a winner from each nursing category - health visitor, community nurse and midwife - and choose the overall winner.

Category winners are in line for a £500 professional bursary, champagne and flowers, and the overall winner will receive a £1,000 professional bursary, a luxury weekend break for two and a £500 donation to a local charity of their choice.