A CARING grandmother has been named Loftus citizen of the year.

Tireless charity worker Ann Middlemass received the honour at a ceremony in the town hall on Tuesday - but the 63-year-old was quick to thank a small army of volunteers.

As she received her shield from town mayor Christine Swales, Mrs Middlemass said the award came as a complete surprise.

"It is a real honour, and I owe a lot to all the people who help me. But I did not even know I had been nominated."

Using the local youth and community centre, she organises events such as coffee mornings and table top sales to help various good causes and over the years has raised many thousands of pounds.

The good work seems to be catching.

"People stop me in the street to give me things for raffles and tombolas," she said. "It is wonderful. The people are very supportive. I am proud to live in Loftus."

Mrs Middlemass has been helping others since she was six-years old and she gave her mother a hand with church work.

Now, her three sons, daughter and five grandchildren are in on the act, helping out whenever they can.

Coun Swales said: "The award is going to a very worthy person. Ann works extremely hard for this ."