A HIP-hop promoter and music entrepreneur from East Morton has won a prestigious national honour.

Sabir Hussain, known as Saby Khan, was victorious in the public choice category of the Unsung Hero Awards.

The presentation ceremony, at the Manchester Marriott Hotel, saw accolades handed out to non-clinical NHS staff and volunteers.

Saby received recognition for services including raising Covid-19 awareness through his British Asian Radio station, giving a platform to young musicians during the pandemic and providing acoustic therapy to Afghanistan war veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

It is the first time in Unsung Hero Awards history that a music producer has featured among the winners.

Saby said it was a "great honour" to receive the recognition, which comes less than four months after he was presented with the Prime Minister's Points of Light Award for exceptional service after founding his radio station – the first of its type in the UK for independent artists, musicians and rappers.

"For the past 18 months it has been a tough time for everyone working in entertainment and music due to lockdown restrictions," says Saby.

"Many people faced mental health issues and my radio station has been doing its best to help prevent the situation taking its toll on people's wellbeing, providing a service to air music for free.

"It is a great honour to receive such a prestigious award.

"It's my second high-profile award within a few months, after receiving the Prime Minister's honour.

"To receive two such awards in such a short space of time is amazing. I'm very proud."

Laura Tomlinson, chief executive officer of the Unsung Hero Awards, paid tribute to all the winners.

She added: "In 2015, the first-ever three winners were visited in their health trusts and presented with a trophy and certificate each. Since that pivotal time, the Unsung Hero Awards have continued to grow rapidly year-on-year.

"My journey with the awards started in 2017.

"I have had the privilege of directly influencing an altruistic marketing idea for the programme to become a Community Interest Company in its own right. The scheme holds weight as a national awards programme through its approach in recognising those who can often go unnoticed. I am proud to head the Unsung Hero Awards."

Saby is now working on a movie with a Leeds-based production company, which will feature British and American rappers. It will start casting next March.