A High Wycombe-based charity is among a string of voluntary organisations to have scooped a top award from The Queen.

Lord Lieutenant Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher announced today (Friday) that the organisations, ranging from a community-run public library in the south of the county to a crisis foodbank in the north are among 187 winners of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service from across the country.

DrugFAM, a lifeline for people affected by loved ones' addictions and based in Castle Street, is among the line-up, as well as Chalfont St Giles Community Library.

Chiltern Rangers, a community conservation group based in Wycombe, has also picked up the award, along with ICUsteps, a Milton Keynes group for patients who have been critically ill, Into the Community foodbank based in Milton Keynes, Meet and Mingle, a group providing healthy living activities, workshops and projects for women in and around Slough and Milton Keynes Islamic Arts Heritage and Culture organisation.

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service is the highest given to local volunteer groups to recognise outstanding work done in their communities.

It was created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of the Queen's coronation and is equivalent to an MBE for volunteer groups.

Sir Henry said: "This is a marvellous success for the committed volunteers of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

“I'm delighted so many organisations have been honoured, and thrilled at the diversity of worthwhile causes represented. This is testament to the quality and commitment of the voluntary sector in the county."

The people of Buckinghamshire, said Sir Henry, were strong role models for service to the community.

An estimated 60,000 volunteers serve in around 3,000 county-based charities.

Presentations of the awards is set to take place during the summer.

Nominations for next year's award can be made at www.gov.uk/queens-award-for-voluntary-service/overview.