A volunteer medical community transport charity, hailed a lifeline service by MP and health minister Norman Lamb, is set to receive a top accolade.

Eastern Daily Press: MP Norman Lamb with his late mother Moira Lamb who used the Holt Area Caring Society.MP Norman Lamb with his late mother Moira Lamb who used the Holt Area Caring Society. (Image: Archant)

The Holt Area Caring Society will be given the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to volunteer groups in Britain.

It transports anyone who lives in Holt or the villages covered by Holt Medical Practice to medical appointments thanks to volunteer drivers.

It was nominated by North Norfolk MP Mr Lamb, whose mother Moira Lamb, from Holt, used the charity for years before her death, aged 95, in June this year.

The charity, which started in 1979, will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, Richard Jewson, at Binham Village Hall on Thursday.

Chairman Peta Benson, 66, from Cromer Road, Holt, said: 'I'm delighted and thrilled. People do put a lot of time into it. It is a good way of finding your way around and getting to know people in the community.

'Public transport in rural areas is better than it used to be but a lot of people find getting on public transport very difficult. Taxis are very expensive and a taxi driver doesn't wait for a person to come out of a hospital appointment. You get personal care with the charity.'

The society has about 50 volunteer drivers who use their own vehicles to transport residents to and from appointments in Norfolk and further afield.

Between 50 and 60 trips are currently being done each week.

Mr Lamb said: 'If you are on a low income and money is tight this sort of scheme is a lifeline.'

Charity user Thelma Webb, 83, from Holt, said: 'I don't know what I would do without the service.'

To find out more, call charity co-ordinator Liz Traynier on 01263 711243 or visit http://holtareacaringsociety.weebly.com

Do you have a health story? Email adam.gretton@archant.co.uk