TALES of selflessness and unstinting work for the community will be revealed on Monday evening when the very first People of Wiltshire Awards will be presented at the Corn Exchange in Devizes.

Since March, nominations have been arriving for the the first ever countywide award scheme, organised by the Wiltshire County Council in partnership with numerous organisations, including the Gazette and Herald.

Nominations were invited for six awards. They are the youth award (sponsored by Nationwide Building Society), the good neighbour award (sponsored by Virgin Mobile), carer in the community (sponsored by Wiltshire Social Services in partnership with The Orders of St John Care Trust), the environment award (sponsored by Hills Waste), employer of the year (sponsored by Business Link Berkshire and Wiltshire) and sporting success (sponsored by Persimmon Homes).

There will be no shortlisting for the awards. Winners in each category have already been selected by a panel of judges, including Gazette editor Gary Lawrence, and the successful nominees have been informed.

They will each receive a cheque for £500 courtesy of the sponsors of each category, with the exception of the employer of the year, who will get £500 of free advertising in the Newsquest publication of their choice.

Winners also receive a certificate and trophy.

The county council has been working in partnership with Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce, Wiltshire Constabulary, Wiltshire Health Authority, Wiltshire Fire Brigade, Agenda 21, Community First, Newsquest Wiltshire, BBC Wiltshire Sound, the district councils and Swindon Borough Council.