The efforts of a Chirk-based volunteer group have been recognised after they received a coveted national award.

Members of Friends of Chirk Station have been awarded their fourth ‘outstanding’ rating in the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood Awards – a grassroots community gardening campaign helping people to make lasting improvements to their local environment.

The awards ceremony was held in Prestatyn on Friday, September 16 and also included the presentation of the 2016 Wales in Bloom Awards.

Members attended the awards along with volunteers from St Mary’s Churchyard , who also gained another ‘outstanding’ rating for their work in the community.

Christine Ashford said: “It feels great to have achieved outstanding status for a fourth time after the hard work of our five members. I believe the ‘It’s your Neighbourhood Awards’ are a great way of bringing communities together and that it’s all about the improvement of where you live.

“Wales In Bloom do an excellent job to arrange the competitions. with 120 winners from all over Wales getting the opportunity to showcase their achievements. We were really pleased to get the chance to fly the flag for Chirk.”

The Friends have now joined with the Llangollen and Erddig Rotary Clubs to support Rotary International’s bid to plant up 5,000,000 purple crocuses for their Purple4Polio campaign.

The scheme, which aims to eradicate polio in the world and is supported by the RHS, has seen Chirk Station take delivery of 7,000 crocuses.

The eye-catching floral displays will be planted at the railway station, along with St Mary’s Church grounds.

Ms Ashford added: “We have approached Chirk Town Council about planting in their areas too and we are hoping that permission will be granted for the remainder to be planted up in prominent places in the town.”