THE golden girls and guys of Leigh and Wigan were honoured for their achievements outside school this week.

Hundreds of local young people received awards at the Wigan Youth Service's annual presentation evening, including Duke of Edinburgh Award winners, Millennium volunteers and youth service groups.

The event at the Monaco ballroom, Hindley, acknowledged the performances of youngsters who have taken advantage of a range of youth service opportunities.

It was hosted by D of E gold winner Louise Leyland of Upholland, one of the first to complete her award this year.

Carol Stone, head of service for young people, said: "We often hear about young people's results at school, but the presentation evening gives us the opportunity to recognise their wider talents. We'd like to congratulate them for their hard work and commitment."

Winners included:

Duke of Edinburgh gold: Lynne Elizabeth Holcroft, Kate Louise Holland, Alison Ince and Steven John Reilly (all Leigh Open Award Centre).

Silver: Darren Hilton (Leigh Open Award Centre); Ryan Lodge, Warren Lodge and Matthew Wilcock (Lowton High).

Bronze: Helen Louise Edge, Christopher Joseph Finneran, Rachael Ann Little (Leigh St Mary's RC High).

Laura Greensmith and Alison Wood (Golborne High); Karen Jones, Natalie Speakman, Lorna Jane Talbot (Westleigh High).

Simon Lloyd (Lowton High); Tim Rawson (Leigh Open Award Centre).

Duke of Edinburgh Award Millennium Volunteers: Emma Bromily, Emma Browne, Karen Freeman, Nicola Gregson, Kate Holland, Gillian Price.

Millennium volunteers (who have contributed 200 hours of their time to help others): Victoria Briscoe, Robin Foxon, Louise Shaw, Elizabeth Taberner, Jayne Taberner, Helen Unsworth and Kerry Williams.

Young volunteers: David Hewitt, Matthew Noonan, Craig Sampson, Darren Taylor, Laura Topping, Paul Duffy, Anthony Green, Julie Kerfoot, James Moffett, Matthew Pennington, Sam Phoenix, Jenny Puzzar and Kevin Smith.

Basic Expedition Leaders' Award: Darren Andrews, Malcolm Critchley, Joanne Elders, Graham Fulford, Nicola Gregson, Kate Holland, Steven Reilly, Catherine Todd and Joe Williams.

Peer Education Project Lowton and Golborne: Gemma Alison, Kate Arnold, Rachel Bell, Julia Carlton, Jenny Hilton, Lisa Hollinshead, Catherine Hutchinson, Claire Hutchinson, Tare Morgan, Gemma Morrison, Jenna Trickett and Stephanie Wilde who designed and delivered a course on drugs education to year 8 pupils.

Part-time Youth Workers Qualification Certificate: Alex Critchley, Olive Halliwell, Tom Heyes, Bev Hilton, Adrian Holland, Mark Mansfield, Tracey Mansfield, Keith McGrail, Vicky Perry, Madelaine Roberts, Carly Williams, Nigel Williams and Sue Worth.

Alcohol Awareness Certificate: Jamie Clarke, Hannah Day, Jemma Edwards, Andrew Halliwell, Alicia Hamilton, Nicola Hughes, Sam Hurst, Chris Jones, Claire McGuiness, Leanne McLaughlin, Vicky Rock, Amanda Skivington.

Disability Action Group: Gareth Benyon, Gary Bradshaw, Michael Burns, Gemma Edwards, Mark Fairclough, Vicky Fox, Robert Henderson, Stephanie Houghton, Chris McGuirk and Heather Sharpe who took a 10 week course at Wigan and Leigh College to gain their assertiveness certificates.

Rafiki: Amjid Amin, Zahra Amin, Lewis Boston, Kieron Fairhurst, Daysha Patel, Dikesh Patel and Mitesh Patel who undertook a four week course in windsurfing and sailing.

Peer Information Project: Jenny Bear, Lesley Boulton, Lisa Coop, John Davies, Heather Dykes, Robin Foxon, Clare Frost, Charlotte Johnson, Pamela Leigh, Nick Mann, John Rutter, Beth Taberner, Mark Tyrer and Sandra Yates.

Young carers: Nicola Aspinall, Darren Speers, Elizabeth Speers, Michael Stewart, Kaylee Stradling.

Young Canoeists groups: Carol Bretherton, Scott Cameron, Martin Cameron, Leanne Cameron , Stephanie Hatton, Michael Fenny, Nicola Pearson, Daniel Scott Pearson, James Peters, Amy Winstanley.

Gary Brockbank, Daniel Brockbank, Andrew Disley, Steve S haw, Michelle Weaver.

Judgement Knights: Gareth Benyon, Garry Bradshaw, Michael Burns, Vicky Fox, Robert Henderson, Heather Sharpe and Jason Worrall.