DEVOTED community volunteer Bob Fish has landed the top prize at Chesham's first People's Award for donating seven half-days a week to charity.

The awards, set up by Chesham's mayor Cllr Mohammed Bhatti, and sponsored by the Free Press, celebrate outstanding contributions to the community by individuals and groups.

Mr Fish of Taylor's Road, Chesham, was nominated for his dedication to Voluntary Action a Chesham-based charity which provides volunteers, advice and training for other charities and community groups.

In his spare time the retired civil servant helps out at the Cancer Research shop in Chesham and Citizens Advice Bureau, and, up until it closed, he was also a regular volunteer at Chesham Hospital.

Mr Fish was one of seven finalists who were presented with a certificate by the mayor in front of a packed audience at Chesham Town Hall on Wednesday, May 11.

He also received a £100 cheque for his nominated charity and secured a place on the judging panel for next year's People's Award.

Mr Fish was delighted with his accolade.

He said: "I am so surprised. There are many other people who deserve this more than me, but I am not going to complain.

"I love my voluntary work. The reason I do it is because I find it very rewarding and it fills my time.

"I feel, although I am retired, I am still making a contribution to the community."

Mr Fish said that without the services of charity organisations like Voluntary Action, Chesham would be a much poorer place to live and work in.

He urged anyone interested in helping to get in touch and make a difference.

Cllr Bhatti said it had been a very difficult decision for the judges.

The runners-up were Madeleine Fletcher, Barbara Payne, Linden Sims, Kim Holt, Kate Swarbuck and Usman Bhally who were also publicly recognised on the night.