After more than 4,000 votes, your Sporting Heroes are honoured at special ceremony. IT'S been a week Christopher Stokes will remember for a long time.

First, the talented young footballer from Trowbridge was signed on a four-year deal by Premiership side Bolton Wanderers and on Wednesday night he scooped one of the top awards in the Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News search for local Sporting Heroes.

Christopher, 14, a pupil at The John of Gaunt School, came out on top in the Sportsman (under-16) category and picked up his trophy at an awards ceremony at the Civic Hall in Trowbridge.

He said: "I'm really chuffed to win this. I'll definitely be taking my plaque with me when I leave for Bolton in July."

Our Sporting Heroes 2005 search proved hugely popular with you, our readers, with more than 4,000 votes registered on the internet, by phone, by text and by post during the two weeks of voting.

Many categories were hotly contested, none more so than the under-16 team category where just a handful of votes separated the top three contenders.

Andy Sambidge, editor of the Wiltshire Times & Chippenham News, said: "We have been overwhelmed by how popular this competition has been. Votes started to flood in as soon as we published our Sporting Heroes supplement and they continued right up to the voting deadline last Friday.

"In fact, the results of a couple of the categories were swung right at the last minute when the final phone votes came through.

"This is the first time we have run something like this but anyone disappointed by this year's results will be pleased to know we will be running a similar competition in 2006."

Winners picked up their trophies and other great prizes supplied by sponsors Asda, radio station 3trfm and DC Leisure, at a presentation night on Wednesday.

It proved a very successful night for Melksham Volleyball Club, which won three awards. The under-18s ladies team picked up the team award while Sue Pierce won the coaching prize and Jemma Mellor was voted club person of the year.

Club chairman Ray Roscoe said: "It's been a fantastic night for us. The club is going from strength to strength and we are already looking forward to next year's Sporting Heroes competition."

List of winners

Sportsman of the year

Tim Stevens

Sportswoman of the year

Marguerite Alexander

Under-16 sportsman

Christopher Stokes

Under-16 sportswoman

Rachel Kay

Men's Team of the year

Corsham Centre

Women's Team of the year

Melksham under-18s volleyball

Under-16 team

Trowbridge RFC under-11s

Coach/Trainer/Manager of the year

Sue Pierce

Club person of the year

Jemma Mellor