They were unsung heroes - until now. Some of the south's unheralded saints have had their acts of bravery and kindness recognised in a prestigious award ceremony...

The south's unsung heroes stepped forward into the limelight at their own glamorous gala ceremony.

Some of the region's bravest, kindest and most persevering residents were rewarded at the Daily Echo-backed Ocean FM Local Heroes awards.

From selfless acts of bravery to friendship, these were the cream of the crop in the search for people who had made a difference to others.

Among them was the winner of the Daily Echo-sponsored award for the bravest act.

Presented by Saints legend Matt Le Tissier, the gong went to David Timms, of West Wellow.

The company director beat off strong competition for the title with his amazing story of bravery.

Two years ago while himself recovering from a spine operation, David came to the rescue of two women when their car plunged 40ft from a bridge.

Despite wearing a restrictive back brace, David managed to pull one of the women free from the upturned wreckage and kept the other woman conscious inside the car while they waited for the emergency services.

David, 52, said: "When an instant decision has to be made there isn't really time to think about it, I just knew I had to get down to them."

The award came as a complete shock to David, who was nominated by his proud son Chris.

Other winners included Gabriella Kispal, who scooped the My Best Friend Award for restoring the quality of life to a patient at her natural health clinic in Chichester, West Sussex.

Top TV favourites Fred Dinenage and Debbie Thrower were on hand to present the Meridian Award to Steve Ware, the Bournemouth dad, who saved the life of an 82-year-old woman who fell into a pond at Poole Park.

Without thinking Dave dived in and pulled her to safety. Dave, who dedicated the award to his three-year-old daughter Katie, said: "There was not a lot of time to think about it. I just did what anyone would have done."

The Ocean FM local hero award went to staff nurse Rosie Purves, who has dedicated more than 25 years to helping sick children at Southampton General Hospital. Nominated by just some of the grateful families she has helped, a tearful Rosie said she was "overcome with the award".

Rosie, of Norham Avenue, Shirley, Southampton, added: "I get the reward every day from just seeing the children's faces light up even though they are in hospital. We try to make it better for them and their family and we are here for as long as they need us."

Chris Difford, formerly of Squeeze, entertained more than 100 specially invited guests with just one song before leaving the stage to Ocean FM breakfast team Spencer Kelly and Gigi Morley, who were comperes of the event.

Pop band Space, who had a string of hits in the 1990s, did not appear as they were reported to have split up in the week leading up to yesterday's ceremony. The afternoon at the De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel, Southampton, was also a big success for the Naomi House children's hospice at Sutton Scotney, near Winchester.

A generous crowd managed to raise £23,650 through a charity auction.

The hospice handed out two awards - to Marian Chappell and Errol Matthews, 17, a terminally-ill boy, of Priory Road, St Denys, Southampton. He has pledged to raise £1,000 for the hospice, despite receiving care there himself for pulmonary altresia, which has damaged his heart and caused his right lung to collapse.

He was too ill to collect the award from former Artful Dodger DJ Peter Devereux.

See today's Daily Echo for more pictures from the event.