THE Duke of Edinburgh was guest of honour at a young people's extravaganza at Wiltshire College, Lackham on Saturday.

The event was to celebrate young people's achievements in Wiltshire and the 50th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards. Prince Philip met young people involved in activity groups across the county including Scouts, Guides and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

He congratulated six recipients of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award, the highest of the awards, as well as other Millennium Volunteer and Sports Leadership award-winners.

Damian Haasjes, voluntary sector coordinator for the youth development service, said: "It was brilliant a great day. We had around 2,000 people there so it was pretty busy.

"It was a great celebration of what young people are doing around the county."

Highlights of the day included a Battle of the Bands contest, climbing walls, orienteering, a five-a-side football tournament and a kaya drumming workshop. Prince Philip met a group of Duke of Edinburgh's award participants who had created a demonstration campsite, similar to the ones they learn to use in order to gain the award, and he even signed one of their tents.

He also planted a tree to commemorate the Awards' 50th birthday and to mark the completion of a two-month tree-planting marathon by the Woodland Trust to create ten new woodlands by young people across the country.

Prince Philip met volunteers from various young people initiatives including the Wiltshire Assembly of Youth, the Wiltshire Youth Opportunity Fund and Spark radio, all of which are run by young people.

Children from the George Ward School in Melksham met the Duke, who congratulated them on gaining their awards. Seventeen children completed their silver and bronze awards.

The event also featured a host of other celebrities from the area including explorer David Hempleman-Adams, Eric Knowles from Antiques Roadshow, Phil Harding from Time Team and radio presenter Gary Vincent.

Nancy Bryant, Wiltshire County Council cabinet member for young people, said: "It is great to celebrate many of the positive things young people have achieved through the youth development service and other voluntary groups like Scouts, Guides, cadet organisations, youth clubs and in this rural county young farmer's clubs."