CHARITY office manager Emer Worth paid tribute to colleagues for their support when she was crowned Trowbridge Employee of the Year on Wednesday.

Miss Worth, 34, was nominated for the award by her manager at Alzheimer's Support, Anna Littlechild.

She was one of six finalists to take to the stage at Trowbridge Civic Hall for an interview with BBC Radio Wiltshire's Heather Skull about what makes them employee of the year material.

Miss Worth said: "I am thrilled to have won and am really thankful to Heather who made us all feel relaxed when we were on stage we were all nervous.

"I have to thank my colleagues too because they made it possible by nominating me. I could not have won without their support and they give me the confidence to do my job well.

The first prize for the Travail Employment sponsored event is a weekend in New York in the autumn with a helicopter tour of Manhattan and a stay in a top Broadway hotel.

Runner-up was Ben Austin, 22, salesman at the Vauxhall Platinum garage.

Mr Austin said: "You go about your job day to day but you don't expect to get recognition like this."

He was nominated for the award by a client who bought a car from him.

Mr Austin won a London break for two people with a stay in a hotel and tickets to a West End show. Four other finalists were given certificates by BBC weatherman Richard Anguin who gave a speech before the winner was announced.

Mr Anguin said the standard of finalists was so high it would be difficult for the judges to chose between them.

He said: "I wish they could all win tonight."

The challenge for the finalists was to prove to the audience they could fulfil the five tenets of the Chamber of Commerce Charter to be sure customers in Trowbridge were getting the best possible service.

Wiltshire Times editor Toby Granville, who was on the panel, said: "The standard just keeps going up and up every year. This year there were about 40 entries and all six finalists did well to get this far.

"This is the ninth year of this competition and it is becoming a brilliant way of celebrating all that is best for staff, employers and the people they serve in Trowbridge."