DEVIZES Hospital Radio, the local hospital broadcasting service that provides specialist programmes of music and entertainment at Devizes Hospital, Anzac House and Southfields residential homes, has won a top accolade at this year's Hospital Radio Awards.

At a star-studded award ceremony in The Erskine Bridge Hotel near Glasgow, hosted by Scottish TV personality Johnny Beattie, the station picked up the silver award in the best special event programme category. The award was accompanied by a cheque for £500.

The panel of judges, drawn from sponsors PPL the music industry's regulatory body and from other members of the radio industry, said that the entry from DHR, which covered last year's Devizes Carnival procession, was an excellent example of the work of hospital radio in the local community.

The panel said: "The patients in the hospitals served by the station can enjoy a range of programmes that really provide a personal and very relevant service for them during their stay in hospital."

This means that Devizes Hospital Radio, which was also presented with a highly commended award for its creative use of music, is now one of the top ten hospital radio stations in the UK.

Paul Hallet, one of the station's volunteer presenters, also came tenth overall in a competition to find the best hospital radio presenter in the UK.

Mr Hallet's entry, which was in competion with hundreds of hospital radio broadcasters, won him a highly commended certificate at the awards ceremony.

Devizes Hospital Radio, which is run entirely by volunteers, competed against nearly 200 other hospital radio stations in this national award scheme.

Emma Wright, one of four DHR personnel to travel to the Erskine Bridge Hotel for the event, said: "This was the best we have ever done and puts us in the top ten in the whole country for hospital radio.

"But the whole area did well. Warminster Community Radio and Hospital Radio Swindon were runners- up in the top award for radio station of the year, which was won by Bath Hospital Radio.

"It shows that Wiltshire and Bath is the home of volunteer radio at its best."