Olympic 'gold' for drains worker

Huw Preece has been working on the project since early 2008

It is three years until the starting gun goes on the London Olympics, but Huw Preece is already a winner.

The 47-year-old from Carmarthenshire has been named "worker of the year" of the 4,500 staff working on the 2012 Olympic site in Stratford, east London.

Mr Preece, from Cross Hands, was praised by a panel as a "responsible, inspirational and trusted colleague."

"It was a real shock but I am over the moon to receive such a prestigious award," he said.

The father of two has been working on the pumping station and foul drainage system of the 500 acre Olympic Park for a year.

Contractors were asked to put forward their best employees for the The Olympic Delivery (ODA) awards which were judged by an independent panel.

ODA chief executive David Higgins said: "The Olympic Park is one of the busiest construction sites in the UK, building the venues, parklands, infrastructure and utilities needed for the 2012 Games and creating a new quarter of London.

The Olympic Park is among the biggest construction projects in Europe

"A huge amount of progress has been achieved in the last year and this is thanks to the hard work, dedication and professionalism of people like Huw."

The independent panel said Mr Preece's colleagues had praised him for his enthusiasm, the example he set and the standards he worked to.

Mr Preece has been working on the project since early 2008. He travels to London from Carmarthenshire on Mondays and is home most weekends.

He said: "This is one of the biggest construction projects in Europe, it's a vast site."

He said he had not expected to win and was home enjoying a week off with his family when he received a call to say he was needed at the awards ceremony.

"I work with a wonderful team and my colleagues have been a great support and it is really thanks for them that I have achieved this."