A social worker has received national recognition for her support of terminally ill people and their families.

Anne Cullen, from the Princess Alice Hospice, Esher, won a silver award at the Social Worker of the Year awards.

Having worked in social care since 1976, she said: "It's quite breathtaking to have won this award, it's such a great honour and privilege. I've only work in palliative care for the last half dozen years and since I've been doing that I've been really inspired by the number of career practitioners who are very dedicated and inspiring social workers."

About 350 social workers and representatives of the profession attended the awards at Lancaster London Hotel on November 28.

Annie Hudson, chief executive of the College of Social Work presented Anne with her certificate.

She said: "She is a hugely dedicated and committed social worker and is helping to make a difference to the lives of hundreds of people and their families who are facing terminal illness. Anne can be extremely proud of this national recognition of the quality of her work and of everything she has achieved."