A stalwart worker with Keighley and District Association for the Blind has won a coveted award.

Mrs Sybil Pye stood down last August after 18 years as the organiser at Skipton Social Centre for the Blind.

Now the 78-year-old, who still helps out with fundraising, has received the Mary Arnold Award in recognition of her service.

The presentation was made at a special ceremony in Keighley on Monday evening.

The award -- now in its fourth year -- is given in memory of volunteer Mary Arnold, who died in January 2000. Mrs Pye, who lives in Skipton, was among four people nominated this year.

Kevin Baldwin, chief executive of Keighley and District Association for the Blind, said: "Sybil shows tremendous dedication and the effort she puts in is over and above what you would expect. She is a very worthy winner of the award.

"She was nominated by a visually impaired person who sent us a very nice letter, explaining how Sybil visited people and had kept in touch with him when he no longer attended the centre.

"Although she is not now the centre organiser at Skipton, she continues to help out with street collections and other fundraising activities."

Keighley and District Association for the Blind has 670 registered members throughout the region, including Craven.

Presentation line up, from left: Celia Allen and Donald Judson (runners-up), Beverley Bancroft (Mary Arnold's daughter), winner Sybil Pye, Pauline Clarke (Mary Arnold's daughter) and Emmi Bottomley (runner-up)