A VETERAN of Lake District mountain search and rescue has been recognised for his decades of voluntary service with an MBE.

Malcolm Grindrod, 78, of Coniston, was presented with his medal by HRH Prince William at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The Duke of Cambridge bestowed the honour to Mr Grindrod, and spoke to him about his service, which included helping search for potential survivors of the Lockerbie bombing in 1988.

"He must have been briefed about me because he knew a lot about what I'd done," said Mr Grindrod.

The decorated rescuer joined the mountain rescue volunteers in Coniston in 1963, and then served with the Langdale and Ambleside MRT between 1970 and 1977, before returning to his village team.

Mr Grindrod was at the forefront of developing the Search and Rescue Dogs Association, and continues to train dogs and volunteer with Coniston MRT to this day.

"It's been 55 years since I started doing mountain rescue and it's the camaraderie that keeps me in it," he said.

"You make very good friends through mountain rescue and also through working with search dogs."

For the ceremony in London, he was joined by his wife Vera and daughters Joy and Kathryn.

"It is a massive honour to receive the medal," he said. "It was nice for my wife and daughters to be for what was a nice occasion as well."

While his prestigious medal has gained a lot of attention from his friends and family, Mr Grindrod added he was yet to find the perfect place to show it in his home.

"It's just at the side of the television," he said. "It's in a nice little box but there's been a lot of people asking about it so it's there if they come and ask to see it."