UNSUNG heroes of Devizes will be recognised at this year's civic awards, due to be presented at the town council's annual parish meeting on April 21.

A panel of judges, including the rector of St John's and St Mary's, Canon John Record, the Rev Ron Williams of St Andrew's Church in Long Street, town centre manager Janet Duffield and Gazette reporter Lewis Cowen, selected the eight recipients out of a total of 12 nominations.

Pauline Hawkins is to receive a 'services to the people' award for her outstanding work with the Devizes in Bloom competition over the years.

She also plays the organ and leads the choir at St Andrew's Church.

Stephen Brazier has been chairman of the Devizes Festival committee for many years and has been instrumental in keeping up a very high standard of events each year.

Dave Buxton has put the town on the map through the many books he has published about it and the work he did as chairman of Devizes Carnival, especially the establishment of Bank Holiday street festival.

But it is as the leading light of the Devizes Christmas Festival last year that he is to be honoured. Despite an already busy schedule, he found time to organise a lantern-lit procession and many other community events in a comprehensive programme.

Jeff Matthews is recognised for his unstinting work for veterans of the former 4th Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment, affectionately known as the Vly Club. For 26 years he has arranged visits to European battlefields where many local men fought and died in the Second World War.

Gloria Bennet is well known for befriending lonely and homeless people in Devizes. Her citation reads: "She visits neighbours and friends, is an active member of the church and is always available to help."

The Rev John Goodman, the former chaplain of the Royal British Legion, receives his award for his work as a welfare visitor for people in hospital and the housebound.

During the last 14 years he has visited many people who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces, sometimes requiring him to visit hospitals in Bath, Bristol, Salisbury and Southampton.

Valerie Hessey is an active committee member at the Crown Centre in St John's Street where she cooks meals for the luncheon club for retired people. She is also a member of Devizes Townswomen's Guild and has held the posts of chairman, vice chairman and secretary.

The only environmental award this year goes to the Devizes branch of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, whose volunteers have helped restore it.