Two charities that work in Mansfield and Ashfield have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Reach Learning Disability, which has a base in Mansfield, supports people with learning disabilities, mainly around Mansfield, Newark and Southwell.

The Children’s Bereavement Centre, based in Newark, provides outreach serves in Mansfield, Ashfield and Bilsthorpe.

It helps children, young people and their close families who are affected by a terminal illness, death, divorce or separation.

Representatives of both groups were invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Sir John Peace, Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, will present each group with their award later this summer.

“I am delighted that these groups have been recognised for the outstanding work that they do within their communities and I send them my sincere congratulations,” he said.

The awards were created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s golden jubilee and winners are announced each year on 2nd June — the anniversary of her coronation.