TWO sailors from North Yorkshire have been presented with special awards by HRH The Princess Royal.

Erica Caswell, of Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club, and Peter Crook from Ellerton Park Scout Water Activity Centre near Scorton, Richmond, were among 47 volunteers honoured at a ceremony in London held by the Royal Yachting Association.

Each was presented with a Royal Yachting Association Volunteer Award for Lifetime Commitment by RYA President Princess Anne.

Ms Caswell, who lives in Pateley Bridge, first started helping to provide low-cost watersports opportunities for local people in the early 1980s and over the last 12 months has overseen the club successfully gaining RYA Training Centre recognition, and accreditation for its work with children.