EIGHT volunteers of a charity which runs support services for residents in and around Topsham have been honoured at an award ceremony at Matthews Hall. The representatives from the Estuary League of Friends were recognised for their efforts at a ceremony

EIGHT volunteers of a charity which runs support services for residents in and around Topsham have been honoured at an award ceremony at Matthews Hall.

The representatives from the Estuary League of Friends were recognised for their efforts at a ceremony by Attend, the UK's leading health and social care body.

The event, part of the organisation's diamond jubilee, celebrating 60 years of volunteering, took place at Matthews Hall last Thursday, April 15.

The league of friends runs support services for elderly, disabled or sick residents in Topsham, Countess Wear, Clyst St Mary, Clyst St George, Ebford and Exton.

Rachel Gilpin, chief executive of the charity, said: "They're a mix of volunteer drivers; people who work in our two charity shops, and some who visit our clients' homes and help them with shopping and trips to the bank.

"Several of them have been doing this for over 10 years and they represent the very best in volunteering."

Representatives of the Devon Primary Care Trust, Devon County and Exeter City councils and a number of organisations in the county's voluntary sector, attended the ceremony.