A lifeboat group has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The team of volunteers at Hope Cove Life Boat have been recognised by the Queen for their dedicated voluntary work within the South Hams community.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to groups of volunteers and is the group equivalent of an MBE.

Hope Cove Life Boat’s chairman, Graham Phillips, said: “It is both flattering and humbling to think that we have even been nominated for such an award, bearing in mind the enormous amount of voluntary work that goes on around the country, by so many people, from so many walks of life.

“It is both a privilege and an honour to realise that Hope Cove Life Boat has been chosen as a recipient of the award.

“The tireless work of hordes of ‘backroom personnel’ has enabled the boat to exist, but, without the ceaseless efforts of the crew, the craft would not operate.

“24 hours a day, 365 days a year, these men and women risk their lives voluntarily to protect and save the lives of others.”

Hope Cove’s lifeboat team operates across the Bigbury Bay area, from Soar Mill Cove in the east, to River Erme in the west, but also assist the Salcombe and Plymouth RNLI boats when required.

The crew at Hope Cove Life Boat will be presented the award by the Lord Lieutenant in Exeter later this year.