It was a night of tears, smiles, laughter, success and memories but for Croydon's unsung heroes it was the night they were crowned champions.

For the last five years the Croydon Guardian has teamed up with Croydon Council to celebrate the people who make this town one of the most successful and vibrant places in the country - and this year was no exception.

The ceremony at Croydon Clocktower's Braithwaite Hall was the end result of a year-long campaign which has recognised the achievements of dozens of people who live or work in the borough.

Around 200 guests attended the ceremony which opened with a drinks reception and buffet accompanied by music from Royal Russell School's chamber orchestra.

Pupils from the Brit School performed at the start of the awards with a solo by Josh Lay, followed by a dance piece and a short excerpt from Golden - a Second World War drama piece based on the memories of the Thornton Heath Darby and Joan Club.

The winners were announced by the sponsors for each individual award, which included Alders, Centrale, Croydon College, Tramlink and the Whitgift Centre.

The awards kicked off with the Champion for Community award which was awarded to Marjorie White for her tireless work helping the elderly and needy across the borough.

The award for business champion was given to Mandie Kemp and Steve Ince won the trophy for Charity Volunteer of the year.

Eight-year-old Dean Freemantle said winning the Child of Courage award was better than seeing Chelsea, his favourite football team, and his family caught the proud moment on camera.

Mum Donna was not surprised that he had won and said: "He has always been a child of courage to his family."

His emotional gran Vanessa Barnett said: "When he was born we didn't even think he would live seven hours let alone eight years so this really does mean the world to him and us."

The Champions award for Diversity was awarded to Shereen Samara who has over the last couple of years not only managed to study for a law degree but also volunteers for Croydon and Sutton Law Centre, Croydon Victim Support, Croydon Magistrates Court and also works to support Croydon Council and the local police.

She brought all her family to the event and said after hearing of her win: "I was so surprised, it was a complete shock to win the award, I thought I had no chance when I saw the others who were nominated. My family are very proud of me."

Second year Croydon College student Bianca Nicholls, 17, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, closed the first half of the ceremony with a moving performance of Christina Aguilera's song - Hurt.

The Croydon Champion of Arts award went to Mary Wolf who has devoted the last 10 years to the Croydon Youth Theatre Organisation.

A very special award was born on Monday night - the Chrissie Van Emst award, which will be awarded to the arts champions of next year and beyond in memory of the Croydon Guardian's former leisure editor, who lost her battle with cancer in August of this year.

Chrissie's husband Tony, children Dani and Joe, aunt Rene Cook and close friend Arabella Sackett were at the ceremony.

Brian Hall, 77, was named Parent of the Year after being nominated by his wheelchair-bound son Philip who suffers with multiple sclerosis.

Allstarz Gym cheered out loud when they learned of their win for Croydon's Team of the Year and lollipop lady Jenny Thairs shed a tear on stage after being awarded the trophy for the Act of Bravery after saving two children from being driven away in a car by a half-naked man.

The ceremony closed with a performance by Karis Anderson of Reflections by Christina Aguilera and a speech by Helen Chitty from Croydon Community Bus, the Champions chosen charity.

Croydon Guardian managing editor Jo Gumb presented the charity with a cheque for £1,000 - a culmination of raffle ticket sales on the night and money donated by the Croydon Guardian.

Hamish McFee - the west Highland terrier who missed out on a Champions award in 2004 - who was on hand helping his owners Barry and Margaret Crosby sell raffle tickets.

Hamish has been a staunch supporter of the campaign for the last two years and attended the roadshows at the Whitgift and Centrale shopping centres to promote the campaign.