BRIXHAM VILLA'S John Charles has been honoured with a top sports award for more than 50 years service to the club.

Charles was among the founder members when Villa were formed in 1953. Now aged 75 he manages the 3rd team and is still involved in youth coaching.

It was that track record of backroom service that impressed the judges of this year's BBC South West Sports Awards after receiving a nomination from staff at Eden Park Primary School in Brixham, where Charles has coached.

Charles was nominated in the unsung hero category and in topping the poll became the second South Devon Football League figure to win it. Harbertonford's Steve Jane won the same award in 2003.

Charles' commendation read: "John founded the club in 1953 and has been involved ever since. He gives up countless hours of his time each week to help coach and fund raise. Some of the young lads he has trained have gone on into professional football, including Everton's Dan Gosling."

Among the highly commended nominations in the same category was one for swimming coach Jane Bridgewater from Shiphay in Torquay.

The overall winner of the competition was Olympic diver Tom Daley from Plymouth, who also won the young sportsperson of the year award.

Other nominations in the young persons' section were skier Cameron Thomas from Brixham, who won three UK dry slope titles this year, and Paignton gymnast Jay Thompson, a double gold medal winner at the UK School Games in Cardiff.

Wheelchair basketballer Jordan Bright featured in the nominations for disabled sports person of the year.

Ex-Torquay Athletic hooker Lee Mears, now of Bath and England, was a runner-up in the rugby award. The winner was Cullompton, who won a Twickenham final last season under the guidance of Newton Abbot-based coach Charlie Mahon.