A DEDICATED dad who spends most of his week living hundreds of miles away from his family has outstripped hundreds of competitors to be named the Mega Bloke of the Year.

Paul White, of Chester, wowed competition judges with his dedication and loyalty to his two daughters and was named the best bloke in the country for 2011.

The news came as a great surprise to the family after months of separation as Paul was forced to work miles away from his family after losing his job during the recession and having to find work 150 miles away in Cambridge.

The 42-year-old, who has only been able to spend a few hours with his daughters and partner Karen of a weekend, has been keeping in constant contact with his family every day over the internet.

Now after winning the competition, Paul, a finance director, will be enjoying some much-needed rest during a three night bed and breakfast break and get to spend some quality time with his daughters during some family based activities.

Karen, who nominated Paul for the award, said that she was so proud of how he had managed to continue being a great father despite the difficult situation over the past year, saying: “It has been a very challenging time for us but we are managing.

“The girls talk to their daddy in the morning on Skype and again before bed. Who knows how long this will last but we want Paul to know how proud we are of him and to thank him for how hard he is working to look after us.”

Pete Fuller, marketing manager at Mega Blokes, said:“We chose Paul for his sheer determination to provide the best for his family no matter the sacrifice.”