diff --git a/tools/filters/trimmer.py b/tools/filters/trimmer.py
index 800a515e349..d1126822a01 100644
--- a/tools/filters/trimmer.py
+++ b/tools/filters/trimmer.py
@@ -88,6 +88,9 @@ options (listed below) default to 'None' if omitted
                 if col == 0:
                     if int( options.end ) > 0:
                         line = line[ int( options.start )-1 : int( options.end ) ]
+                    elif int( options.end ) < 0:
+                        endposition = len(line)+int( options.end )
+                        line = line[ int( options.start )-1  :  endposition  ]
                     else:
                         line = line[ int( options.start )-1 : ]
                 else:
@@ -97,6 +100,9 @@ options (listed below) default to 'None' if omitted
                         
                     if int( options.end ) > 0:
                         fields[col - 1] = fields[col - 1][ int( options.start )-1 : int( options.end ) ]
+                    elif int( options.end ) < 0:
+                        endposition = len(fields[col - 1])+int( options.end )
+                        fields[col - 1] = fields[col - 1][ int( options.start )-1 :  endposition  ]
                     else:
                         fields[col - 1] = fields[col - 1][ int( options.start )-1 : ]
                     line = '\t'.join(fields)
diff --git a/tools/filters/trimmer.xml b/tools/filters/trimmer.xml
index da33c0d810e..786e29c1766 100644
--- a/tools/filters/trimmer.xml
+++ b/tools/filters/trimmer.xml
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@
     <inputs>
         <param format="tabular,txt" name="input1" type="data" label="this dataset"/>
         <param name="col" type="integer" value="0" label="Trim this column only" help="0 = process entire line" />
-        <param name="start" type="integer" size="10" value="1" label="Trim from the beginning to this position" help="1 = do not trim the beginning"/>
-        <param name="end" type="integer" size="10" value="0" label="Remove everything from this position to the end" help="0 = do not trim the end"/>
-        <param name="fastq" type="select" label="Is input dataset in fastq format?" help="If set to YES, the tool will not trim evenly numbered lines (0, 2, 4, etc...)">
+        <param name="start" type="integer" size="10" value="1" label="Trim from the beginning up to this position" help="Only positive positions allowed. 1 = do not trim the beginning"/>
+        <param name="end" type="integer" size="10" value="0" label="Remove everything from this position to the end" help="Use negative position to indicate position starting from the end. 0 = do not trim the end"/>
+        <param name="fastq" type="select" label="Is input dataset in fastq format?" help="If set to YES, the tool will not trim evenly numbered lines (0, 2, 4, etc...). This allows for trimming the seq and qual lines, only if they are not spread over multiple lines (see warning below).">
             <option selected="true" value="">No</option>
             <option value="-q">Yes</option>
         </param>
@@ -53,7 +53,15 @@
            <param name="fastq" value="No"/>
            <output name="out_file1" file="trimmer_a_f_c2_s1_e2_i62.dat"/>
         </test>
-
+        <test>
+           <param name="input1" value="trimmer_tab_delimited.dat"/>
+           <param name="col" value="2"/>
+           <param name="start" value="2"/>
+           <param name="end" value="-2"/>
+           <param name="ignore" value="62"/>
+           <param name="fastq" value="No"/>
+           <output name="out_file1" file="trimmer_a_f_c2_s2_e-2_i62.dat"/>
+        </test>	
     </tests>
 
     <help>
@@ -72,7 +80,7 @@ Trimming this dataset::
   1234567890
   abcdefghijk
 
-by setting **Trim from the beginning to this position** to *2* and **Remove everything from this position to the end** to *6* will produce::
+by setting **Trim from the beginning up to this position** to *2* and **Remove everything from this position to the end** to *6* will produce::
 
   23456
   bcdef
@@ -86,13 +94,27 @@ Trimming column 2 of this dataset::
   abcde 12345 fghij 67890
   fghij 67890 abcde 12345
 
-by setting **Trim content of this column only** to *2*, **Trim from the beginning to this position** to *2*, and **Remove everything from this position to the end** to *4* will produce::
+by setting **Trim content of this column only** to *2*, **Trim from the beginning up to this position** to *2*, and **Remove everything from this position to the end** to *4* will produce::
 
   abcde  234 fghij 67890
   fghij  789 abcde 12345
 
 -----
 
+**Example 3**
+
+Trimming column 2 of this dataset::
+
+  abcde 12345 fghij 67890
+  fghij 67890 abcde 12345
+
+by setting **Trim content of this column only** to *2*, **Trim from the beginning up to this position** to *2*, and **Remove everything from this position to the end** to *-2* will produce::
+
+  abcde  23 fghij 67890
+  fghij  78 abcde 12345
+
+----
+
 **Trimming FASTQ datasets**
 
 This tool can be used to trim sequences and quality strings in fastq datasets. This is done by selected *Yes* from the **Is input dataset in fastq format?** dropdown. If set to *Yes*, the tool will skip all even numbered lines (see warning below). For example, trimming last 5 bases of this dataset::