BLACKADDER star and Time Team presenter Tony Robinson presented awards to six businesses from west and north Wiltshire at the county's first employer training awards on Friday.

The ceremony was organised by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Wiltshire and Swindon, to honour the cream of the county's business community.

The LSC, which is responsible for planning and funding all post-16 education and training in Wiltshire, handed out awards in 13 categories from technology in training to community work.

Trelleborg Automotive from Trowbridge was among the winners, scooping the Vocational Training Award for its NVQ programme.

Another Trowbridge success story highlighted at the ceremony was Larkrise Community Farm whose manager Wendy Self picked up the Community Award. The farm was honoured for the way it caters for people with special needs, giving them training opportunities with the animals it looks after. Larkrise mainly serves Trowbridge, Bradford on Avon, Melksham and Westbury and provides a resource for six to 60s

Trowbridge frozen food firm apetito received the Working with Young People award.

Wiltshire College claimed the Modern Apprenticeship award while North Wiltshire District Council won the Technology in Training gong. Building and repair company Sarabian Ltd from Kington St Michael near Chippenham won the IIP award for firms with less than 250 employees.

Runner-up for Training Provider of the Year was TADS Training of Melksham with first place going to New College Swindon. The certificate was presented to directors Dee Temple-Multon and Pete Clough.