A GROUP dedicated to helping breast cancer sufferers has won a prestigious prize from the Queen for its contribution to the community.

Blackburn Breast Care Support Group is among the first-ever winners of a Golden Jubilee Award, along with 199 other groups across the country.

The award will become an annual event to reward the outstanding commitment and contribution the groups make to their community.

Blackburn Breast Care Support Group has provided support, advice and a social gatherings for countless women over the last 10 years.

Cancer suffers have been helped as well as women worried about other problems with their breasts.

The group meets at Beardwood Hospital, Preston New Road, Blackburn and was started by Margaret Robinson, the then Breast Care Adviser for the area. When she retired about four years ago, Ruth Loft and Sue Sharples took over as joint organisers.

Ruth, who has been treated for breast cancer twice, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have won the award and it is wonderful to be recognised.

"All the people involved deserve it because they look after each other and support each other within the group.

"It is a very friendly group -- there are usually about 30 there, although there must be double that number who drop in from time to time.

"Just knowing that you are not alone helps many people to come to terms with being diagnosed with breast cancer."

Home Office Minister Lord Filkin, who announced the winners, said: "Community activity such as this is a vital resource -- it develops the individual, boosts local communities and enriches the nation.

"These groups reach out and touch the lives of others, often providing them with unconditional human contact that would otherwise be missing.

"We owe them an enormous debt and I am very pleased that their work is being recognised in this important way."