A GROUP of volunteers who have given a combined 9,500 hours of their time to boosdt their community have received prestigious awards today (Thursday).

They were presented with Police and Crime Commissioner Pride awards by Sue Mountstevens at a ceremony at Taunton Rugby Club.

As part of their efforts for Link Power, they have removed 61 tonnes of rubbish from the Halcon area of Taunton and returned 1,000 shopping trolleys to Asda and Sainsbury's.

Ms Mountstevens said: "We have some truly remarkable people living and working amongst us in our local communities.

"You should all feel extremely proud of yourselves, as we do of you.

"Your dedication and commitment to overcoming adversity and supporting your local communities is exemplary.

"We are thankful for your support in helping the communities of Avon and Somerset be safe and feel safe."

AWARDS WINNERS.

Lee Marsden: specialises in hedge cutting with colleague Phil Keal every day of the week. His nomination describes him as "hard working, prompt, smart and effective".

Jon Barr: A Link Power supervisot, he recently completed a gencing project and supports weekend schemes such as Little Litter Pick Marshall.

Dan Donovan: turns his hand to anything and supports less confident members of the group and has become a self-employed carpenter.

Matthew Brice: dedicates six days a week to Link Power, clearing an astonishing amount of rubbish off the streets.

Rhiannon Kershaw: applies herself to most roles and has helped in the pop-up kitchen and develops new volunteer and peer assessments.

Trevor Thomas: despite personal challenges, he is always on hand to support fellow volunteers.

Graham Farrall: goes above and beyond and wants to make a difference in everything he does.

Rob Thomas: fully applies himself to everything he's asked to do and led a Children in Need appeal, raising £500.

Sarah England: has a passion for the community and her confidence and skills have increased in her role as volunteer receptionist.

Trevor Beebe: takes on any task, no questions asked and proactively looks for jobs to improve the ward.

Barry England: always there to help and great at laying patios, showing tremendous attention to details.

Samantha Brownsey: "confident, polite and caring", she deals with receptionist duties and bookings as a receptionist.

Susan Thomas: 'Mother Hen' for other volunteers, a receptionist who maintains files and accounts.

Patricia Moon: lovely customer service and phone manner, she keeps th shop running with her personal touch.

Kevin Keal: "kind-hearted", identifying areas requiring work, with a sense of pride in everything he does.

Bob Middleton: gives back to his community by contributing to most areas.

Liz Hellard: posthumously honoured for her efforts working daily to support colleagues in the shop and offices. Award collected by Derek Hellard.