A retired music teacher, a carer and a banker are among 10 police volunteers from New Malden who are still propping up the thin blue line a decade after they began.

They all help keep the front counter open at CI Tower police office and were part of the residents group which managed to get New Malden police station reopened 10 years ago.

Since then they have worked unpaid for police dealing with other residents, general enquiries and lost and found, while freeing up other PC and PCSOs time to deal with crime.

Retired print worker Bert Akerman, carer Patricia Begley, former steel salesman Barrie Elphicke and BT marketing manager Julie Gilbert were thanked by the Met Police’s deputy chief commissioner Tim Godwin at a ceremony at Imber Court in East Molesey on Tuesday, June 7.

They were joined in their long service awards by school secretary Susan Moore, and retired music teacher Joan Hale, ex financial services employee, Lindsey Martin, French teacher Joan Monroe Monroe, retired bank official Anthony Townsend, joiner/carpenter Bill Watson and 140 other volunteers from across London.

Mrs Moore, who works at Wimbledon Preparatory School, has followed in the footsteps of her police officer husband Alan, who attended with her.

She said: “Over the past ten years it has not always been easy to fit in work, family duties and my voluntary role but it is always worth it.”

Alison McWhinne, a volunteer who helps the Berrylands Safer Neighbourhood Team was also highly commended in this year's Met Volunteer Awards.

A spokesman for Kingston police said: “It is just a huge thankyou. We acknowledge what they all do and they give up their time and do these duties because they want to. We are just grateful.”

To volunteer contact Nicola Gobey at nicola.gobey@met.police.uk or 0208 247 5132.