A Mitcham charity has won a prestigious Royal award for its voluntary service this year.

Commonside Community Development Trust has won the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the highest that can be given to local volunteer groups in the UK.

Based in Pollards Hill, one of Merton's most deprived wards, the charity supports more than 100 families and 100 elderly people every year. It raises £350,00 in grants and fundraising activities.

It runs the New Horizon Centre, which is open seven days a week for people of all ages.

Volunteers at Commonside work in the lunch club and cafe, at the food bank, in community events, and run children's activities as receptionists, gardeners and cleaners.

Director Naomi Martin said: "For far too long, Pollards Hill and the East Mitcham wards have had a reputation of a somewhat down-at-heel and uninspiring area in south London.

"At the Commonside Trust we are enormously proud of our unique and talented volunteers whose dogged commitment has finally put us on a high quality map!"

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee and recognises outstanding work in communities by local volunteer groups.