Hannah Gray finds out the stories behind the winners:

• Women in the Community - sponsored by Wilkinsons


• Woman of Courage - sponsored by The Evening Telegraph, Peterborough


• Mother of the Year - sponsored by The Evening Telegraph, Peterborough


• Women in Leadership - sponsored by Luminous Group


• Young Achiever Award - sponsored by Fusion


• Woman of Determination - sponsored by Peterborough Women's Centre


• Woman of the Year - sponsored by Peterborough City Council

There were tears, there was laughter, and most of all, there was pride.

The second annual Evening Telegraph Women of Achievement awards were an opportunity to recognise a whole range of women, from fantastic mums to women in leadership.

After a sumptuous lunch at the Marriott Hotel, ET editor Mark Edwards hosted the presentation of the awards.

He told the audience: "It is true that Peterborough is, to a great extent, run by women. The chief executive of Peterborough City Council is female, our chief constable is female, and, of course, my own boss, the managing director of East Midlands Newspapers, is female.

"I think you will agree that all the women here today are fantastic examples of what makes women so special.

"All are worthy of the awards and we applaud them for all their effort and hard work, much of which has, until now, been unrecognised."

Many of the winners were visibly choked on receiving their awards, none more so than Lesley Tatlow, who was the day's overall winner, coming away with the trophies for Women in the Community and Woman of the Year.

She told The ET she was "overwhelmed" by her triumphs, adding: "I didn't expect to win."

Amanda Davison-Young, manager director of East Midlands Newspapers, which publishes The ET, said: "It was a really humbling experience. We have some real women of achievement in Peterborough and it's good to celebrate their successes."

Full coverage of our Women of Achievement Awards - www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/woa