GREEN fingered volunteers who take pride in making Rossendale Valley beautiful have won a prestigious award for their efforts.

Civic Pride Rossendale have collected the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

The group of 40-strong volunteers, who regularly collect litter, plant bulbs and flowers, keep the borough tidy and encourage others to take prode in the area where they live.

To winthe award the volunteers went through two assessments, two presentations and untold hours of hard work.

Described as an MBE for volunteer groups, the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK and award recognises the outstanding work these groups perform in their communities.

Last year the group collected more than a million pieces of litter and 3,000 bags of litter from the streets of Rossendale.

Chris Blomerley, the chairman for Civic Pride Rossendale, said: "This is a marvellous tribute for the Civic Pride volunteers who work 365 days a year in their quiet unsung way to make our valley a beautiful place in which to live, to work and to visit.

"I'm sure everyone across the Rossendale community will want to join me in thanking the hundreds of volunteers who've been involved over the 18 years Civic Pride has been in existence and congratulate them on this richly-deserved award."

The Rossendale community group were bestowed the Queen's Award for 'eliminating litter, regenerating community gardens and encouraging others'.

This is the first time the volunteer group have received the award since they were previously nominated in 2015.

Civic Pride Rossendale were one of five Lancashire volunteer groups to receive the prestigious award.

The other four were The Abaseen Foundation UK, The Fairfield Association and the Sallows Head and Neck Cancer Support Group.

The Queen's Awards were created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen's Golden Jubilee and the winners are announced each year on June 2 - the anniversary of the Queen's Coronation.

Winners receive a certificate signed by the Queen and a domed glass crystal. Representatives from the group may also be invited to attend a royal garden party.

Any group of two or more people that has participated in voluntary work for more than three years can be nominated for the award.