COMIC actor Ralf Little, one of the stars of hit series The Royle Family, brought more smiles to Nationwide at the building society's Employee Community and Environment Awards.

Individuals and groups from Nationwide Building Society collectively raised more than £78,000 for charity, and were also recognised for supporting their local communities and the environment during 2007.

In all, 10 different awards were presented, with four of those going to people in Swindon.

The Special Achievement Award went to Amanda Martin, the Special Achievement Team Award was won by Business Services, Roger Reeves from Hawksworth won the Community Ambassador Award and a second team from Business Services won the Environment Team Award.

All the winners were presented with their awards by the celebrity guest and Nationwide executive director Tony Prestedge at a special ceremony in High Wycombe.

Amanda Martin works at Kingsbridge Point in Swindon. Despite being diagnosed with Crohn's disease a few years ago, Amanda has taken part in many charity events in order to raise awareness and money for further research into the disease.

Amanda completed The Moonwalk, Race for Life and a half-marathon in Cyprus and during the last four years she has raised more than £2,000 for the Colitis & Crohn's Society and other charities.

The Business Services team, who support the strategic and day-to-day running of the company at Nationwide House in Swindon, completed several activities to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Events included a Christmas and Valentine's Day gift wrapping service, barn dances and selling home-made cakes and jam during their lunch breaks. They raised more than £3,260 for Cancer Research UK.

Mr Reeves has been involved with many different initiatives over the years.

A member of the Swindon Scout Movement since he was eight, and Deputy County Scout Commissioner for 25 years, he has also been chairman of the Swindon Duke of Edinburgh Awards for 12 years, and the manager of Swindon Town Ladies football team since its formation in 1993.

Another team from Business Services won an award for erecting two Eco-Huts at Covingham Park Junior School in Swindon, and also raised nearly £11,000 to build an orphanage in Zimbabwe.

Prestedge said: "Nationwide is very proud to have so many employees who volunteer to support their local communities, environment and charities. Their actions have resulted in helping an enormous number of people across the country."