FOUR people from South Worcestershire have received royal recognition for giving up their time to help others.

They met the Queen at a Buckingham Palace reception for the Year Of The Volunteer.

Besides talking to the Queen, Ryan Townsend, Claire Hilton, Sarah Smith, all from Droitwich and Joe Insull, from Worcester, also met Prince Philip, the Duchess Of Gloucester and Chancellor Of The Exchequer Gordon Brown.

They were among 300 volunteers nationwide who were honoured for regularly giving up their time and helping other people.

Joe, who is 22, is a volunteer with YMCA Worcester Foyer and Worcester Self Harm Project and is researching ways to highlight the needs of young people who self-harm.

Ryan, aged 20, has volunteered for both Victim Support and as a special constable. He helped provide activities for children as part of the South Worcestershire Millennium Volunteers Hit Squads.

Claire, also 20, became a volunteer with Worcestershire Young Carers after being a young carer herself for many years.

She and Sarah, aged 17, took part in consultation with the Russell Commission, an independent body set up last year to look at youth action and engagement.

Sarah has volunteered with the SWMV Hit Squads and now works full time as a New Generation Youth Worker with Worcestershire Youth Service.

"It was a fantastic achievement by all of us to be invited to the palace, especially for doing something we are all so passionate about. It's great to see volunteering has such a high profile now," she said.