OLD Trafford volunteers have received the highest award they could be bestowed with in their sector for their kind-hearted work.

A group of volunteers from the Old Trafford-based World Mission Society Church of God (UK ZION) have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The group are well recognised for their work, as well as their vivid yellow t-shirts, engaging costumes and bright smiles.

Their work comprises of several projects, such as care-home visiting, clean-up campaigns, graffiti removal, youth festivals, disaster relief and blood drives.

The group have been issued with certificates of appreciation from Stretford and Urmston MP Kate Green and all 10 borough councils of Greater Manchester.

Michael King and Kim Joo-cheol, from the World Mission Society Church of God, attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 24, where they met the Queen and other winners of this year’s award.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities.

The awards were created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on June 2 – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.

The group will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester later this summer.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Committee chair, former broadcast journalist Sir Martyn Lewis, said: “I warmly congratulate all of the inspirational voluntary groups who have been rewarded for their community work with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The judging panel for this year’s awards were struck by the quality and breadth of all the successful groups.

“The thousands of volunteers who give up spare time to help others in their community and to help solve problems demonstrate the very best of democracy in action.”