Diamond Jubilee honour for boat charity
A Loughborough charity founded during the Queen's Silver Jubilee year has been given an award during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The Peter Le Marchant Trust has been honoured for its work providing boat trips for the disabled.
The trust, chosen for the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, has helped more than 120,000 people since 1977.
The charity organises day trips and four-night holidays on local canals and the Rivers Soar and Trent.
It also helps families with seriously disabled children to enjoy week-long self-drive trips.
More than 4,000 people use the trust's boats annually.
A team of more than 60 volunteer crew and skippers, trained to Maritime & Coastguard Agency standards, work on the boats.
The award was established in 2002 as part of celebrations for the Queen's Golden Jubilee.
It is given for outstanding achievement by groups of volunteers who devote their time to helping others in the community.
Peter Le Marchant Trust's chief executive, Charles Grace, said: "It is an amazing recognition of the hard work of the trust and its volunteers over the last 35 years, and for the contribution they have made to the lives of others in our community."
Volunteer skipper Charles Moore said: "I am sure I speak for all the volunteer team in saying that it is a fantastic organisation which provides much pleasure to 4,000 deserving people of all age groups every year."
The trust operates three boats based at Canalside Moorings in Loughborough.