LITTER Action Group for Ealing Residents (LAGER Can) has won a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2021, the equivalent to an MBE for voluntary groups.

LAGER Can was nominated for the award by Ealing Council's Senior Park Ranger, Vanessa Hampton, who said: "I'm delighted that LAGER Can and their incredible work have been recognised by this prestigious award.

"They have such a positive impact helping to keep Ealing clean and building a network of great people who care about the world they live in."

Keith Freegard, who founded LAGER Can in 2017, said: "I founded LAGER Can primarily in response to the local litter problem when I was living in Hanwell.

"I never dreamed that four years later the group would be honoured in this way.

"It's a great achievement!"

LAGER Can administrator, Cathy Swift, said: "We were delighted by our nomination for the award.

"At the time of our assessment last November, LAGER Can had 875 members.

"We now have more than 1,600 and in the first quarter of 2021 we spent 4,600 volunteer-hours filling the equivalent of 10,900 bags of rubbish, recyclables and large items.

"Our members tell us that they feel their physical and mental health have improved by spending time outdoors with like-minded people, improving our environment and making new friends.

"Who knew litter picking could be so enjoyable!"

LAGER Can members are supported by nine local representatives in different parts of Ealing Borough.

Under the leadership of Northolt representative, Grazina (Gracie) Muzikeviciene, many large and derelict sites have been relieved of many tonnes of rubbish.

LAGER Can is also supervising 43 Duke of Edinburgh Award student litter pickers from 14 schools throughout the borough, and works with schools, scouts, cubs and local companies to support their litter picking activities.

If you'd like to support LAGER Can and the work it's doing, you can donate to the group's Earth Day Recycling Challenge which aims to raise £5,000 by July 3.