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Your nominations have been flooding into our email inbox for the past month and we are pleased to present you with the names of those put forward. All are heroes in their own right, but only one can be crowned Watford's Local Hero 2014.

Read about the nominees below and then vote for your favourite. The winner will turn on intu Watford’s Christmas lights on November 20.

1. Andy Smith, who cycled 5,000 miles across Brazil this year for charity, was nominated by his friend Svein Clouston.

He has raised more than £5,300 for the Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

He visited every stadium used during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil during his epic trek, facing 40 degree heat, torrential downpours, long steep uphill climbs, poor quality roads and crazy traffic.

Svein said: "He raised thousands of pounds for a number of different charities and also raised awareness of the plight of Brazil's indigenous population. 

Andy Smith in Brazil

"I know he'd be embarrassed to be nominated but he's a massive Hornets fan so I'm sure he'd be very proud. He's still raising money and awareness so all publicity would be great. And I know for a fact he's brilliant at turning on lights."

2. Evan Fourie, who is the head of security at the Oceana nightclub in town, was nominated by his colleague Darrin.

He said: "He has done such a great job over the years keeping everybody safe. He has a pretty hard job sometimes and he handles all situations very well. I work for Oceana myself and I feel everyone is safe inside our venue with Evan and his team on security."

3. Rio Woolf was born without a tibia, knee or ankle joint due to a rare condition called tibial aplasia.

His leg was amputated when he was 14 months old and his NHS prosthetic limb was so heavy it dragged behind him when he tried to run after his friends in the playground.

Rio's mum Juliette said: "He has shown incredible tenacity and perseverance since he was born. We were told when he was five days old that he would need a through-knee amputation at 10-12 months.

"Rio was inspired by The London 2012 Paralympics. Having been disheartened that summer because he couldn't run as fast as his friends with his heavy NHS prosthetic leg, which was rigid and has no knee joint, he was incredibly inspired and motivated by watching "people with special legs running".

Rio on the indoor track at Lee Valley Athletics Centre during a training session 

"Dorset Orthopaedic very generously sponsored Rio to make his first running blade at a cost of £4,000, which Santa gave him on Christmas Eve 2012. Now he can run, hop, jump and skip with both legs - he literally has a new spring in his step."

Rio has since been given a revolutionary new running blade by Dorset Orthopaedic, which allows him to wear a pair of shoes for the first time with his blade, a water activity leg, which can be used in the sea or swimming pool, and a knee-jointed leg so he can kneel and sit cross-legged like his class mates.

Juliette added: "We are so proud of our courageous little boy who lives life to the full and doesn't let anything slow him down or get in his way of what he wants to achieve - he just wants to try everything. Rio is a great ambassador for child amputees, showing that there are no limits and that there is life after amputation."

4. Sara Jane Trebar has campaigned against the closure of the Farm Terrace alloments and was nominated by Adrian & Sophie Sellars, Claire Behan, Helen Peck, Teral Bowen and Katie Shaw.

She was described as "a fantastic spokeswoman who has campaigned tirelessly and is commited to preserving this beautiful and historical asset for future generations."

Sara Jane Trebar (right, wearing hat) with allotment holders

Helen Peck added: "For Sara Jane to not give in, in the face of some quite vitriolic attacks locally, and to fight for the underdogs is a real achievement and she should be recognised for being such a determined and passionate supporter for the protection of not only Farm Terrace but potentially other allotments the length and breadth of the country. 

"Sara Jane is a positive voice and role model for women who want to make a difference for others. I hope she wins. It only takes one person to empower and encourage others to stand up for themselves."

5. Maurice Saunders, president of the Croxley Green British Legion, was nominated for his work with current and former servicemen and women.

Maurice Saunders at the Audentior awards

One of his nominees said: "I met Maurice when my dear friends lost their son who was killed in action in Afghanistan. He supported them and gave them invaluable help and support. Very sadly, there were more local boys lost, again, Maurice was instrumental in helping the mourning families to come together.

"Their friendship today is a true grounding for what Maruice stands by. A stalwart for Croxley British Legion and continues to fight to bring people together in a common cause, to honour our fallen and look after their loved ones. Maurice is an incredible man. His love, support and dedication are an example to us all. It is an honour and a privilege to walk by his side."

6. David Williams is a volunteer who works in the bereavement department at Peace Hospice Care. He was nominated by Elizabeth Waldock, who described him as "a rare, unassuming individual, who has made a considerable contribution to the service and thoroughly deserves this award."

David works as a bereavement counsellor, bereavement visitor, supervisor for bereavement visitors and STARS facilitator.

David Williams

Elizabeth added: "David was part of the very first STARS grief group for children and their carers in 2000 and has literally supported hundreds of adults and children since then. 

"Children readily warm to David and he is held in equally high esteem by his colleagues, supporting those facilitators less experienced than him. 

"He is a consistent and multi-skilled volunteer; as a visiting counsellor, he has seen bereaved clients too ill or handicapped to come to the hospice, managing their physical and emotional pain with compassion and patience.

"David also fixes ‘things’ practically as well as emotionally, from secretly repairing the office clock, to working at home mending broken items required for Stars groups.

"He has never accepted a pound for expenses incurred, despite travelling many miles."

7. Norma Lewis, who runs the Welfare Centre in the Stanborough Centre, was nominated by Carly Cranmer and two other family workers from the South West Herts Partnership.

She was described as "one of the most steadfast and reliable community support members" who sources endless items of clothing, food, bedding, duvets, shoes, kitchen items, for those families who are going through desperate times.

Norma Lewis (left)

A nominees added: "Norma is always welcoming to families and treats people with huge respect. She has been a local lifeline to families in dire need for many years. She is more than kind; she is our angel."

Norma has also taken charge of a soup run in London on Friday nights for more than 30 years.

Carly Cranmer said:  "She gives all of her spare time to those in need and families from Watford through running the Stanborough Centre and also travelling to London regularly to run her soup kitchen and give blankets, quilts and clothing to the homeless.

"She truly is a Local Hero. Without her many families in Watford would not have been able to access things so very much needed and we as family workers would be lost."

8. Stacy Hart, who writes a blog every week about living with ME, and designs and sells clothing to raise money for charity, has been nominated by her friend Terena.

Stacy Hart

As well as writing prose she also performs as a hip-hop artist under the name "Mama Chill". She was told by doctors that her music career was over when she was diagnosed with ME, but didn't let this discourage her. She has released a 13 track album titled "Raw".

Terena said: "She does a brilliant blog every week, even though she struggles every day with chronic illnesses. She also does a load of charity work, which she doesn't make a big song and dance about. She is a star in my book.

"She is an inspiration to many of us with chronic illness, and no matter how bad she is feeling, she always manages to get us to crack a smile."

9. Christine Evans from Watford New Hope was nominated by her colleague Annette Davis.

She said: "Christine is due to retire at Christmas after 24 years at the Haven support centre for New Hope.

Christine Evans

"Christine is a rock and has supported those in Watford who are rough sleeping, giving out endless cups of tea soup and sandwiches, offering hope, love, compassion and at times a shoulder to lean on.  

"She has always been the backbone of the haven support centre for staff and service users and will be sorely missed by all." 

10. Lata Rees, who is Watford Mencap's senior coordinator for learning and leisure, was nominated by her friend Amanda Cerasale.

Lata Rees (on the right)

Amanda said: "Lata has worked with Watford Mencap for many years and also does a lot to help local disable people."

11. Robert Henney was nominated by his sister Amy for his work with young people in Watford.

She said: "He left home at the age of 17 and was looked after by the care system until he got a flat a year later. Since finishing his college course, where he studied sports therapy, he has gone on to help others in similar situations. 

"He worked for two years at the college in student support and was also student governor, helping students with many different things. He now works with Youth Connexions and youth support as he wants to give back what was given to him in his time of need. 

"In his spare time he helps out with residential trips for children in care, last year leading a group of young adults to Snowdonia in wales. This year he has enrolled in university to study youth care work with his aim to become a social worker/youth worker. Whilst doing his university course he still finds time to work with Connexions three days a week doing youth clubs."

To vote simply click on the name of the person you would like to make Watford's Local Hero 2014: