TWO charity stalwarts in Teesdale have been honoured with a visit to a royal garden party.

Brenda Thwaites, from Cotherstone, and Maureen Bainbridge, from Baldersdale, were invited to attend the Royal Garden Party at Holyrood Palace, in Edinburgh, at the weekend.

The two women are both founder members of the Teesdale Committee for Cancer Research UK.

The committee celebrated its 30th anniversary in December and it has raised more than £336,800 since then.

Mrs Thwaites and Mrs Bainbridge, who are the treasurer and chairwoman respectively, are the only two founder members, who are still on the committee.

Despite awful weather, both women enjoyed the day.