A DEDICATED museum volunteer from Worcester has had her hard work recognised with a regional award.

Muriel Clayson, who volunteers at three museums in the city, scooped an accolade in the 'Above and Beyond' category at the first West Midlands Museums Volunteer Awards.

Mrs Clayson has been a volunteer at the Tudor House Museum since 2004 and also works for free at the George Marshall Medical Museum and the Infirmary Museum.

The former nurse was presented with her prize during the awards night at Birmingham’s Hippodrome Theatre, which was hosted by broadcast journalist Sarah Falkland.

She said: "I was very pleased when I got it [the award]. It was a lovely time. I enjoy it [volunteering], it is interesting."

The history enthusiast urged anyone to come along and volunteer at one of the museums.

She said: "I love history. I think people should keep in touch with the past - it is amazing how much people don't know about the history of Worcester because it comes and goes."

Mrs Clayson was just one of many volunteers receiving awards on the evening, which was part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust's Major Partner Museum and West Midlands Museum Development programme.

Karen Davies, West Midlands Museum Development Programme manager, said: "We were delighted to have received such high quality nominations for the first West Midlands Volunteer Awards. The judging panel certainly had a hard task to select the winners."

Louise Price, curator at George Marshall Medical Museum, said: "For the past decade, Muriel has helped at George Marshall Medical Museum’s annual family open days, and has been a pivotal link in the chain joining the medical museums in Worcester with the Worcester Royal Infirmary Nurses’ League."

Mark Macleod, head of the Infirmary Museum, said: "We are lucky to have Muriel as our subject is an area she has great experience in. However since retiring she has not abandoned the nursing profession and it’s of great benefit for our visitors that she is willing to share her working years’ life with them."

Margaret Panter, trustee of Tudor House Museum, said: "Muriel is not some-one who seeks out committees and the limelight, but quietly and efficiently joins because things need to be done."

The West Midlands Volunteer Awards are funded through Arts Council England.