A dedicated and long-serving employee of Stokenchurch Dog Rescue has been nominated for a national award.

Jane Evans, from Thame, is in the running for a Petplan Insurance and Association of Dogs and Cats Home annual animal charity employee of the year award.

SDR has also been nominated as animal charity team of the year.

Winners will be announced at the ADCH annual conference in Birmingham on April 27.

Hundreds of charities are involved and the awards are for animal carers who go the extra mile to rescue and rehome animals. Jane Evans was nominated for a similar award last year but was unsuccessful.

Last year Jane had the original idea to plant a rose bush in memory of two of SDR’s most loved resident dogs, Donald and Major, who died in 2015.

Her efforts snowballed and the scheme became a larger memorial garden in the charity’s grounds in Oxford Road, Stokenchurch. Plants and compost were donated by Notcutts Garden Centre, Wickes gave a bench and there were engraved memorial stones from Letterfest.

SDR, an independent local charity, was founded by Wycombe area dog lovers 54 years ago and it has saved tens of thousands of dogs from destruction and rehomed them. It has a policy to never put a healthy dog to sleep.

The charity’s spokesman, Geoff Perfitt said: “Jane is dedicated and has worked very hard for SDR through sometimes tough, distressing - but often happy - situations with dogs in all weathers and situations. She always has a great smile when a dog is rehomed. She deserves medals!”