WATCH: Main Highland Heroes sponsor explains what makes event so special

More than a dozen individuals and groups were honoured at the annual Highland Heroes awards.

The special event, organised by Highland News and Media, was designed to give recognition to unsung heroes across the region.

It was staged at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness, with main sponsor Inverness Airport.

After being nominated by the public, the finalists were selected by a panel of judges prior to a public vote to choose the winners with more than 16,000 people engaged in the process by having a say.

• Highland Heroes salutes extraordinary people doing extraordinary things

Airport manager Graeme Bell, who was also on the judging panel, said: "The engagement has been immense.

"It's humbling and amazing to see how many people are out there in their communities making a massive difference.

"They are all winners. They are out there doing things over and above their everyday activities, over and above looking after their own families – whatever they have to do for their dependants, they are doing all this over and above, so they are absolute heroes."

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