An Ashford couple who picked up an award for their outstanding welfare work have been celebrating their achievements with the Mayor of Ashford.

Cllr David Smith invited Jim and Rosemary Butcher to tea at the civic centre to congratulate them after they were presented with their seventh award in eight years for their outstanding welfare work for the Royal British Legion (RBL).

Mr and Mrs Butcher are Kent County Welfare Caseworkers and Jim is also the County Benevolent Co-ordinator.

Mr Butcher told the Mayor: “It is a wonderful privilege for Rosemary and I to be involved and help people to rebuild their lives, we treat everyone with the love and respect they deserve and do the best we can for them."

The couple help and advise on a range of topics including rent, household adaptations and also offer assistance on how to get onto training courses that will help with a better chance of employment.

The Mayor said: “Jim and Rosemary really are a fantastic example for the rest of us to look up to. Their hard work and dedication to helping service and ex-service personnel really is something to be proud of and they thoroughly deserve this award.”

The couple were presented with their award at the RBL Annual Conference which was held at Headcorn Village Hall in January.