A volunteer committed to Melksham’s Christmas lights display and a helpful bus driver were among recipients of civic awards on Friday.

The Melksham Civic Awards, handed out at the town’s Assembly Rooms, are aimed at recognising members of the community for their hard work and contribution to the town.

Retired MoD worker Andy Kolczak, 66, was praised for his conscientious and effective contribution as a voluntary member of the Melksham Christmas Lights Group.

Mr Kolczak, of Kenilworth Gardens, who also worked at Sainsburys and B&Q in the town after taking early reitrement, said: “We have lived here for around 30 years now, and it was probably about 10 or 11 years ago that I saw an advertisement in the local paper asking for volunteers.

“There are some people that put them up every year and are always involved and others, that due to family commitments, have come and gone, but there are people involved that have helped far longer than me, so I was accepting this award on behalf of everyone.

“A lot of towns these days have contractors that come in and do things like their lights for them, but we are just a bunch of volunteers.

“There are anywhere from 10 to 20 of us that help out each time, but it does fluctuate.”

Mr Kolczak, who lives with wife Jane and has two children, Sara, 42, andf Richard, 41, added: “The ceremony was very pleasant, there were lots of people there, we had wine and nibbles as well as being presented with certificates.”

To help with this year's Christmas lights display in Melksham visit www.melkshamchristmaslights.co.uk

Other winners on the night included Frome Minibuses driver Richard Hill, for his courteous and helpful nature to members of the public while driving the No 14 bus in the town, Melksham Ladies Hockey Club and the Avon Valley Runners’ coaching team.

In addition there were those recognised for their sporting skills including Gabriel Jones, of The Manor School, who is an active member of various sports clubs and school teams and Robert Cannings, of George Ward School for his achievements in volleyball.