Aspatria’s charity shop has won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Jean Powell and Kathy Bain, volunteers with the Aspatria and District Community Charity Association attended a garden a party at Buckingham Palace last Wednesday to celebrate these awards, with the Queen and other members of the Royal family.

ADCCA chairman, Duncan Stevenson, said: “Everyone is very excited by this award. It is the equivalent of an MBE for voluntary organisations, and a prestigious acknowledgement of the charity’s work over the years since it started in 1996.”

The shop is unusual, because it is dedicated to serving the local community as a whole, rather than one particular charity. The funds are raised from the sale of items donated mostly by the people of Aspatria and surrounding villages, and local organisations make applications for grants of up to £750 using a form collected from the shop.Over £350,00 has been raised and distributed in 33 years.

Mr Stevenson said: “I would like to salute everyone who is presently involved with ADCCA , and also the many people who have worked for the charity over the years. They all thoroughly deserve this award.

“Thank you, too, to the people of Aspatria and district for their support, both in buying and donating goods.

“We are looking forward to continuing to provide this service to our local communities.”

Three other Cumbrian groups, Bay Trust Radio in Kendall, the Ford Park Community Group in Ulverston and the Lakeland Horticultural Society in Windermere also received the award.