An Olympic gymnast and a D-Day veteran were among the role models who inspired young people at an enterprise day in Chippenham.

The event at Neeld Hall was aimed at giving young people the skills to secure jobs and was organised by Wiltshire Council with funding from Action for Wiltshire.

Teens joined CV writing workshops and mock interviews by Wiltshire Police, GreenSquare Housing, Wiltshire Council and the Department for Work and Pensions. It was attended by 86 students from Abbeyfield and Sheldon schools in Chippenham and colleges in Chippenham and Lackham.

Forty young people aged 16 to 24 not in education, employment or training called into the afternoon session.

The day was opened by Councillor Peter Hutton, Reverend David Alderman of Chippenham Methodist Circuit and High Sheriff of Wiltshire William Wyldbore-Smith.

Francesca Fox, who is from Hilperton and represented Great Britain in the team event at last year’s Olympics, performed a demonstration of rhythmic gymnastics.

D-Day veteran Clifford Jones, 92, from Chippenham, showed his medals and spoke about his experiences in Normandy 69 years ago.

He said: “You’ve got to complete your qualifications. Mine were interrupted by the war, but I went back to finish them afterwards and became a plumber.”

There was also a careers fair with 19 employers, while DJ master classes were given by producer King P, who is launching an online radio station in Wiltshire. Students are invited to get involved with Kik Radio on www.kikradio.com/team.php