TWO Scout leaders have been honoured for their outstanding service.

Husband and wife Graham and Ann Hill both received the Medal of Merit for their work in the Scout Association, most recently with the Claines Scout and Guide Group.

The Medal of Merit is awarded to people who have been nominated for their long and distinguished service to the Scout Association

"The award would be, in my view, like an MBE for service to the RNLI," said Mr Hill who has been working with the Claines Scout and Guide Group for 18 years.

The couple had no idea they had been nominated for the awards.

"I was stuck for words," said Mr Hill of Battenhall Road, Worcester.

Shirley Daniels, assistant county commissioner for the Venture Scouts, presented them with their awards.

"She was the person I asked for a job in 1983, and so it is fitting that she should have been the one to present the awards," said Mr Hill.

Until recently Mr Hill was group Scout leader for the Claines Scout and Guide Groups, and Mrs Hill was an assistant leader with the Eighth Worcester Scout Troop.

They have both decided to take a step back from the front line but will still be involved in the Scout Association because they are county mountaineering assessors and county climbing assessors.

"Both Ann and I have been saying that this award is about team work," said Mr Hill. "It is also due to the hard work of 40 or 50 adults who have been involved in different aspects of the organisation."

Pauline Wildman, chairman of the executive committee for the Claines Scout and Guide Group said the award was only given to people for "very distinguished service".