TELEVISION presenter Katie Piper has been announced as this year’s Pride of Andover Awards host.

The Andover-born star will present the annual awards ceremony, set to take place at The Lights theatre in October.

The 33-year-old replaces stalwart host Esther Rantzen, who stepped down last year after a decade in the role.

Mrs Piper, who grew up in the town and attended Harrow Way School, said: “I am very proud to be hosting The Pride Of Andover Awards 2017.

“I grew up in Andover so I have a personal interest in these awards.

“It’s a special honour for me to be recognising these inspirational people in my home town.

"I am looking forward to meeting you all there.”

The event will be a particularly poignant occasion for the mother-of-one, who was given a Pride of Andover Award herself in 2010.

The former model was presented with the award for her courageous reaction to a vicious acid attack in 2008.

The attack, which took place in London and was organised by a former boyfriend, left Mrs Piper with serious facial burns and blind in one eye.

A year later, she bravely gave up her anonymity to speak out in a bid to increase awareness for burns victims.

She has since become a highlyrespected philanthropist, television presenter and writer.

Announcing Mrs Piper as the new host, awards chairman Karen Hamilton said: “We have had 10 wonderful years of Esther Rantzen hosting the Pride of Andover, and thankful for all her input into the event.

"She has been a great ambassador to supporting the unsung heroes of our town.

“We knew we had some big shoes to fill so who better to ask than Katie Piper, whose roots are Andover, and a previous winner of the Courage Award.

“We were delighted when Katie agreed to host the 2017 event as she has a very busy work schedule in her own right.”

Alongside the addition of Mrs Piper, the Pride of Andover committee has also announced two new categories.

The first will be the Young Person of the Year Award, which will recognise an under-18 who has made a real difference, either through their actions, by fundraising or working tirelessly in their community.

A Sports Awards has also been introduced to recognise an Andover resident who has inspired in the world of sport.

The awards will be officially launched at a sponsors lunch on Saturday, June 24 at 12pm at the White Hart on Bridge Street.

Ahead of the launch, the committee is looking for two sponsors to back the two new awards.

Currently Simplyhealth, The Commercial Centre, New Street Dental Care, Andover Vision, The Breeze and David Mellor Family Jewellers have all signed up to support this year’s ceremony.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the ceremony, or nominating someone for an award, should visit simply visit: www.prideofandoverawards.org.uk/awardcategories/.