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Outstanding Family Awards

And the winners are...

Back in May we launched our annual search to find Britain's most outstanding family of the year. Entries flooded in from across the UK, bringing tales of triumph over tragedy; inspirational achievements; families who have worked together to make a difference and share their time, love and good fortune with those in need. After reading hundreds of entries and spending hours deliberating, with the help of our judges; TV presenter and prospective MP Esther Rantzen, GMTV's Lorraine Kelly, actress Amanda Redman and supermum Birdie McDonald, we finally found the six winning families of the Candis Outstanding Family of the Year award for 2009.

Said Esther, "This award is wonderful and inspirational. I've long been an advocate of the importance of family life and it's about time we recognised the unsung heros of our society and celebrated them in style. It was a really tough one to judge, as each family are remarkable, but I did my best!"

Our other judges echoed Esther in saying how difficult they found it to choose just one family to be the Candis Outstanding Family of the Year for 2009. Amanda Redman said, "There are so many families out there who have faced adversity and turned the experience into something good. Every family that entered has my complete admiration."

Lorraine Kelly agreed, "I was delighted to help judge the wonderful entries, it was inspirational to read about so many selfless families working together to make a difference."

Supermum, Birdie McDonald, who has fostered over 1,000 children added, "I always say that if more families worked together for the greater good, the world would be a much happier place. It's time those who are trying to make a difference are given the recognition they deserve."

After much deliberation, six regional finalists were chosen and invited to a celebration lunch at Chester Zoo at the end of August. Esther Rantzen presented each family with a £250 cheque and fantastic goody bag before announcing the overall winning family, who won a fabulous First Choice family holiday to the Costa Dorada in Spain. Said Esther "I was astonished by the way the winning family have, through unique courage and imagination, created happiness in lives that could have been blighted by tragedy."

So without further ado, meet this year's fantastic families...

The Winners (and Southern Regional winners): The Hoadley family from Eastbourne, East Sussex

Northern Regional winners: The Shearer family from Aberdeen, Scotland

North West Regional winners: The Shard family from Runcorn, Cheshire

East Midlands regional winners: The Barnes family from Bothamshall, Nottinghamshire

West Midlands regional winners: The Phelan family from Buckingham, Buckinghamshire

South West regional winners: The Edwards family from Ashprington, South Devon

View ITV footage of the winning Family - The Hoadley's

View more photos from the Outstanding Families awards cerermony