An award-winning bowls coach who gives up his weekends to teach has been nominated for his dedication to the sport.

For the last year Barry Willingham has acted as the lead coach at Wimbledon Park Bowls Club and has been recognised on a number of occasions for his hard work and enthusiasm.

He has helped double membership since 2013 through Saturday morning taster sessions and his dedication was picked up by the Surrey County Bowling Association (SCBA), where Mr Willingham has spoken to a variety of county groups to share the successes of the clubs coaching and recruitment programme.

Last year he was given the highest honour by SCBA when he was presented with the Leopard Award for his services to bowls over the past 20 years.

He had a key role in the inaugural Merton Primary Schools Bowls Tournament, coaching the Year 6 children from Wimbledon Park Primary School as well as helping to run the inter-school final at Merton Park Bowling Club.

Mr Willingham, who said he was surprised and happy to be nominated in the Sporting Achievement category, led Wimbledon Park's recruitment drive which so impressed the national governing body for lawn bowls, Bowls England, that the club was chosen as the regional winner for the south of England and third place overall in the 2014 National Club of the Year competition.

Mr Willingham, who is recovering from cancer, has won many titles in the sport, including the Wimbledon and District's Men's Pairs competition, retaining the title that he helped win in 2013 - the first time it had been done.