A COMMUNITY champion has been praised for her volunteer work with Shildon police.

Carol Fletcher, of Shildon, who helps out with several groups in the town, has been volunteering for 25-years.

She won a Police Support Volunteer Award earlier this year for her efforts in 2013.

Mrs Fletcher, of Dale Road, turned to volunteering after retiring from Mill Street Post Office, in Shildon.

She joined Shildon Community Safety group in 1999, and became its treasurer in 2004.

In 2011 she became a police volunteer taking on a secretarial role which included her updating crime victims on how investigations were proceeding and work on a Pubwatch scheme.

She also attends sessions at Timothy Hackworth Primary School, on Byerley Road, in Shildon, to help the youngsters to read.

A former chairwoman of the three Shildon Police and Community Together groups she is involved in the Thickley ward only now.

Mrs Fletcher said: “I went along to the safety group meeting with some friends and it just went from there.

“I enjoy volunteering and I’ve lived in Shildon for most of my life so I wanted to give something back to the town. As long as I can volunteer then I will.”

Sergeant Tim Kelly, of Shildon police, said: “Carol is an integral and important part of the team and a wonderful asset.”