SLEAFORD'S unsung heroes were honoured at a grand awards ceremony at Kesteven and Sleaford High School on Saturday.

The ceremony, which was jointly sponsored by Sleaford Town Council and the Target, was held in recognition of people who have made a difference in the community and deserve to be recognised for their efforts.

The awards were the result of a public nomination, which opened in January and ran for several weeks.

At the end of February, all the names of the nominees were put before a voting panel consisting of event organisers and, after much debate, the 14 winners and their guests were invited to Saturday night's ceremony, with around 150 people in attendance.

Add to this the Mayor's Award and the Sleafordian of the Year – winners chosen by Sleaford Mayor Coun George Grout and by the judging panel respectively – this year's event was the biggest yet, with a total of 16 awards presented.

The ninth annual awards was hailed a great success by Sleaford Mayor Coun George Grout.

Speaking about the debate in choosing the winners he said: "What a challenge it was!

"We had an outstanding cross- section of winners.

"Our thanks must go to the sponsors who made the event possible, as well as the many unsung volunteers behind the scenes and the cadets from the Sleaford Detachment Lincolnshire Army Cadet Force."

All award winners were presented with a frame in which their presentation photograph will be set.

Awards sponsors were: Pygott and Crone, Chamber of Commerce, Junior Sports Programme Ltd, Clive Wicks Associates, Chattertons, FGS, Sleaford Business Improvement District, Rotary Club of Sleaford, Cawsey Motors, The Pottery Painting Café, Carre Street Gallery Arts Trust Ltd, Lincolnshire Co-operative Ltd, Newman Moore, and David Trethewey Seeds.

Youth Award – Lesley Scully

New Business Award – Millstream Butchers

Junior Sports Award – Sleaford Girls Rugby Team

General Sports Award – Brian Rowland

Business Achievement Award – Leander Waine of Go Drive

Volunteer Award – Sylvia Lawes

Customer Service Award – Royal Mail Sleaford

Young Ambassador Award – Carl Blackman

Boss of the Year – Marcus Grimshaw of Fiducia

Performing Arts Award – David Prescott

Visual Arts Award – Phil Cosker and Dave GroomEnvironment Award – Sally Lawrence of Mother NatureEducation Award – Nicola Westerman Mayor's Award – Sleaford Netball ClubSleaford's Hero of the Year – Lt Col Ian GrahamSleafordian of the Year – Sylvia LawesPhil Cosker and Dave Groom

Environment Award – Sally Lawrence of Mother NatureEducation Award – Nicola Westerman Mayor's Award – Sleaford Netball ClubSleaford's Hero of the Year – Lt Col Ian GrahamSleafordian of the Year – Sylvia LawesSally Lawrence of Mother Nature

Education Award – Nicola Westerman

Mayor's Award –

Sleaford Netball Club

Sleaford's Hero of the Year – Lt Col Ian Graham

Sleafordian of the Year – Sylvia Lawes