A DEDICATED and selfless beacon of community service has been awarded the Ernest Kay Memorial Award for Achievement by the Rotary Club of Radcliffe.

Agnes Tonge, of Countess Lane, Radcliffe, was presented with the award which is given out annually to a resident in the town who has achieved an outstanding success from personal effort.

Agnes, who is in her 90s, became a sister in St John Ambulance Brigade serving Radcliffe in 1946. She was later awarded and appointed a Sister of the Order of St John.

In 1988, she became a member of the WRVS and delivered meals-on-wheels until 2001. She has also assisted at blood donor sessions in the town, and only stopped doing that in March.

As treasurer of the Bealey Community Hospital League of Friends, she has helped raise thousands of pounds since becoming a member in 1984.

Rotary Club spokesman Ron Mollard said: "Agnes has spent a lifetime helping others and has achieved true service to the people of Radcliffe and so is very worthy of this honour."