THREE Cumbrian volunteer led groups have been honoured for their vital work in the community with a prestigious award.

Bay Search and Rescue, Fellrunner Village Bus and Westmorland County Agricultural Society have all been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee it is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise their outstanding work and is the MBE for volunteer groups.

241 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups received the award this year and the number of nominations from the public remains high year on year.

For over 20 years Bay Search and Rescue has been involved in major coastal incident around Morecambe Bay, including the search in 2004 for 22 missing Chinese cockle pickers who tragically drowned.

The charity has been involved in life-threatening floods, snow and wildfire incidents across the Northwest and have provided national flood support to DEFRA.

The team are renowned for their ability to travel to hard-to-reach areas, using Hagglund Tracked Amphibious Rescue vehicles, boats, and four-wheel drive vehicles.

During Storm Desmond crews travelled hundreds of miles across fields and fells to reach communities cut off by the fast-flowing flood water.

And in June 2018, BaySAR's Hagglunds were tasked to assist in one of the country's biggest and most protracted wildfires on Winter Hill near Bolton.

Meanwhile Fellrunner Village Bus has been connecting the many small villages and isolated hamlets in Eden to Penrith and Carlisle for over 40 years.

And Westmorland County Agricultural Society-established in 1799- provides community-led agricultural events and educational programmes promoting food, farming and the environment.

"We are all so proud and honoured to receive such prestigious recognition for our charity,” said chair of Bay Search and Rescue, Steve Stebbings.

“For over 20 years Bay Search and Rescue have been providing specialist life-saving services for our communities in the most extreme conditions in support of our statutory services.

“The Queens Award for Voluntary Service represents a wonderful accolade for our selfless and committed volunteers.

“May I offer my heartfelt thanks to all who support us."

The winning organisations will receive a certificate signed by Her Majesty The Queen and a domed glass crystal which will be presented by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria, Mrs Claire Hensman.

And two volunteers from each group will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace next May, along with other recipients of this year’s award.

“I would like to thank our winning organisations for their tireless work and commitment to the communities they serve,” said Mrs Hensman.

“They are all thoroughly deserving of this award. Volunteers are the glue that hold our communities together.”

“There are many more voluntary groups across Cumbria doing excellent, innovative work enhancing the lives and experiences of many people in their local communities.

“Many have stepped up to the current Covid-19 challenge in very difficult circumstances and they have all our admiration and gratitude.

“I hope that this will prompt more nominations for the next year’s round of awards.”

For further details about the award and how to nominate visit - www.gov.uk/queens-award-for-voluntary-service/overview