Success can range from a directory that lists products made and sold locally or a campaign which revived the festive spirit during the run-up to Christmas to a community that reclaimed its 18th-century free school.

Three market towns in the have been applauded for these innovative projects that have boosted business, prestige, heritage and the environment.

Westbury and Warminster in Wiltshire and Fairford in Gloucestershire were named as winners in the annual South West Market Town Awards in recognition of schemes that have enhanced the vitality of their communities.

Each year the awards celebrate the great variety of volunteer-led projects that help to regenerate and sustain small towns throughout the country.

Warminster scooped the region's business and economy category with its Buy Local project, geared towards increasing awareness of the huge array of products made, grown and sold there.

Two years ago the Warminster and Villages Community Partnership compiled the directory to inform people what products and produce were made and available locally.

Mother of two Chris Montagu, 59, a Warminster resident for eight years, said it was a way of helping the town tradesmen, producers and craftsmen combat increasing competition from bigger towns.

She said: "When we started compiling the directory even we were amazed at the sheer variety of goods made and produced here.

"There are a number of furniture makers, along with someone who specialises in rocking horses and another who makes sundials.

"We have a local vineyard and another producer who sells organic watercress. It's remarkable really"

Nearby Westbury won the environment and culture category by raising local interest in the Christmas period, increasing community involvement, supporting local business and publicising the town's Yuletide attractions.

Christmas in Westbury involves a programme of events and activities that runs from late November to the end of December, drawing in all parts of the community, supported by an active promotional campaign.

The judges said: "A distinctive logo and promotional treatment was adopted to help create discrete brand awareness for Westbury at Christmas.

"In addition, a sub-theme of a Victorian Christmas was introduced."

Judges were also impressed by the popular Christmas Tree Festival and a co-promotion of an old time music hall concert.

They added: "The initiative has proved to be a very innovative project for a relatively small market town."

The Fairford Community Centre project was a campaign to revive one of the town's most historic buildings, the Grade II* Free School.

Built in 1736, it was saved from dereliction and last year put to use as a key community building with a wide range of organisations now using it.

The £1.3 million project, which won the social and community category, began a decade ago when the town and parochial church council set about buying the old school from Gloucestershire County Council

Representatives from all three initiatives received their certificates at an awards ceremony in Ivybridge, Devon.