NEWSQUEST'S vintage bus was touring the streets of Swindon yesterday promoting the People of Wiltshire Awards in the hope of finding Swindon's unsung heroes.

Shoppers in the town centre were given application forms to nominate friends and family.

Newsquest Wiltshire, which publishes the Evening Advertiser, supports the awards, which are now in their third year.

The scheme aims to honour people who have made an outstanding contribution to community life.

The Newsquest bus will journey across Wiltshire, raising the profile of the awards and encouraging more people to enter nominations.

Wiltshire County Council vice-chairman Coun Allan Peach, who is helping to run the awards, said: "This is the start of a month-long drive to ask the people of Wiltshire to nominate those unsung heroes they feel deserve recognition.

"We look forward this year to honouring even more of the people who make Wiltshire special."

Categories include Carer in the Community, Youth Award, Sporting Success, Good Neighbour, Environ-ment Award and Employer of the Year.

The winners will be announced in June at a gala evening in Trowbridge.

Forms are available in libraries, doctors' surgeries, pharmacies, opticians, dental surgeries and youth and leisure centres.

Nominations can also be made on line at http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/wiltshire/peopleawards/.

The deadline for entries is 5pm on April 30.