THREE North Yorkshire charities have been given Royal recognition - with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2016

Ryedale Carers Service, Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre and the Ryedale Youth Theatre have each been honoured the highest national award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The groups will receive the award from the Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Barry Dodd, later this summer.

“I am thrilled that these three groups have been recognised; this is the highest number of Queen's Awards won by North Yorkshire since the award was instituted in 2002 and I look forward to meeting the groups personally,” he said.

“I encourage people to nominate other worthy groups from our county for this award.”