EACH year the Warrington Guardian celebrates the unsung heroes in the town and this year was no exception.

Ten awards were presented during the evening at The Halliwell Jones Stadium including a special Legacy Award which was presented to the families of Viola Beach.

Editor Hayley Smith said: “Our awards are about giving recognition to those who have made a difference in their communities and we wanted to pay our own lasting tribute to not only the band, who were on the verge of having hugely successful careers in the music industry, but also their families for showing such incredible strength in the most tragic of circumstances.

“The Craig Tarry Memorial Match and The River Reeves Foundation are just two of the inspiring tributes to have risen from the darkness of such a tragedy.”

Speaking on stage, River’s dad Ben Dunne said: “You do not expect to lose a child, it is horrendous. It is life-changing. 

“I hope I can speak for all the families and the siblings of these lads that this town has carried their journey on.

“Although their journey ended in February Warrington has done them proud. Out of a horrible tragedy something fabulous will happen.”

The fourth Warrington Inspiration Awards was attended by 150 guests.

Entertainment was provided courtesy of 12-year-old Beau Dermott, who developed her incredible singing talent at StagePro Academy in Warrington before wowing Simon Cowell and the nation as a finalist in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent.

Funds raised during the popular event will be given to the Guardian’s charity of the year Warrington Disability Partnership (WDP), along with a donation to Beau’s chosen charity the Mane Sanctuary.

Speaking at the event, WDP chief executive Dave Thompson said: “We never set out to be a charity and we never set out to do Disability Awareness Day.

“We were just trying to make a difference to other disabled people who were struggling to find information which was key to independent living.”

For more coverage pick up a copy of this week's Warrington Guardian which is on sale now.