GOOD Samaritan Liam Attwell has received a second posthumous award after saving the life of a Chippenham skateboarder.

Mr Attwell, 25, was killed in October 2002 when he tried to help three Chippenham boys who were being robbed in Canon's Marsh, Bristol.

The boys had been skating in the city with a larger group of friends after the closure of Chippenham skatepark.

Mr Attwell's actions allowed the young skateboarder and two friends to escape, but he was fatally injured.

The father of the young skateboarder, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he was really pleased Mr Attwell had won the award.

"It's a great idea. I am very, very pleased for his family," he said.

Mr Attwell's mother Rosin Reddick, together with 15 members of his family and friends, collected the Waley-Cohen Award for her son's brave and public spirited action in a ceremony at Avon and Somerset police headquarters in Portishead last Friday.

Mr Attwell died in hospital three days after being stabbed in the chest by Brian Grady, then aged 17.

He had intervened when a gang of six youths tried to steal a mobile phone from one of the Chippenham skateboarders.

Mrs Reddick, 46, from Bristol, said she wished her son could have seen how many people appreciated what he had done.

She said: "It was quite a moving experience to receive this award but I'm delighted that everyone who went through the experience with me are here.

"Liam was not a vigilante type and he would never have joined the police force. He was an individual with long hair tied back in a ponytail. I wish he could have been here to see how many people appreciated his actions."

The Waley-Cohen Award is awarded to people who perform meritorious acts in support of law and order. A minute of silence was held during the ceremony in remembrance of Mr Attwell.

The team of police officers who investigated his death also received awards.

Grady was convicted of murder in July 2003 and ordered to be detained for a minimum of 11 years. He failed to have his sentenced reduced at an appeal last week.

It was the second posthumous award for Mr Attwell. Last November an award was given on behalf of the Flavian Medal Society, an organisation founded by martial artists to honour those who have been courageous.