A RECYCLING charity in Pinehurst has been honoured by the Queen.

The Swindon Scrapstore, based at the Pinehurst People's Centre, has been recognised in the first Queen's Golden Jubilee Awards.

The awards were started by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to reward the outstanding commitment and contribution of charities and organisations to the community.

Now four members of the charity are set to take a trip to Buckingham Palace for a garden party to celebrate the award.

Project manager, Olivia McCann, said: "This is a real honour. Hundreds of organisations in the South West applied for it and less than 20 were successful.

"Awards such as this are prestigious and help raise public awareness of what we do. We are a huge organisation and yet few people in Swindon have heard of us."

The charity serves more than 350 different clubs, charities, groups and individuals from schools to businesses and playgroups.

It collects clean, reusable, non-toxic waste then displays it for members who pay an annual fee to collect and use as they wish.

Mrs McCann says the store is an "Aladdin's cave" of stock such fabric cuts, paper and much more.

The Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sir Maurice Johnston, will present the Scrapstore with its award on July 1.

www.swindonweb.com/scrapstore