A WOMAN whose friends were murdered whilst carrying out charity work has been presented with an award.

Clare Dixon, from Hartlepool, was awarded the José Simeón Cañas Medal for extraordinary merit for her work to defend human rights in El Salvador in Central America.

Six of her friends and two other women were murdered in an army massacre in 1989, whilst she was in the county carrying out charity work.

Ms Dixon said: “They were killed because of their work for social justice and their efforts to bring an end to the civil war which claimed the lives of 75,000 civilians.

“So, this medal which connects me to them means so much to me."