A Watford charity has received the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Small Acts of Kindness says it is "absolutely thrilled and honoured" to accept The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities.

The charity works in partnership with more than 90 organisations from the voluntary, corporate and statutory sectors, along with more than 300 community volunteers.

After being set up six years ago, the charity has reached around 45,500 older people across Hertfordshire.

Lynne Misner, Small Acts of Kindness chief executive, said: "We are absolutely thrilled and delighted that the hard work and dedication of our volunteers has been recognised with the highest award any charity can receive in the UK.

"Everything we do is led by our wonderful family of volunteers and this award recognises their efforts above all. Together we have helped some of the most vulnerable older people in Hertfordshire at a time when they needed it the most.

"We thank everyone who has helped make this happen – together we are stronger."

As one of 241 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the award this year, the number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation.

Representatives of Small Acts of Kindness will receive the award crystal and certificate from Robert Voss, Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, later this summer.

Furthermore, two volunteers from Small Acts of Kindness will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2022.