VOLUNTEERS at a community store have been recognised for their contribution with a royal honour.

Earlams Community Store, Café and Art Gallery at Styal has received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The store is in Altrincham Road, and was established by the villagers in 2014 to improve village life.

The building is owned by the National Trust, and was formerly a shop and post office.

Earlam’s chairman John Novak said: “We are very proud of all we have created at Earlams, and delighted that our work has been recognised in this way; it pays tribute to the hard work and commitment of our volunteers.

“The store, café and art gallery is an inclusive community enterprise that promotes and provides opportunities for creativity, learning, volunteering and a social focus for the village of Styal and surrounding area.

“Styal has had a village store since the 1800s, and the village store, café and gallery, which is a community-run company, was established by the villagers in 2014 to enhance Styal village life.

“It helps to create a sense of community that benefits the village as a place to live, work and visit.

“It is a key part of the community, and is unusual in having the three elements of a store, café and art gallery.”

Jan Dixon and Liz Jones, secretary and treasurer respectively of Earlams management committee, attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May along with other recipients of this year’s award.

Representatives of Earlams will receive the award from David Briggs, the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, later this summer.

Earlams is owned by the community, and is open seven days a week, from 9am to 2pm from Saturday to Monday and 9am to 4pm from Tuesday to Friday.

Earlams is one of 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities.

It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Winners are announced each year on June 2 – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.