AN "inspirational" woman has been honoured for her continuing service to Horwich at the age of 96.

Edith Pierce was given the Horwich Civic Medal, which is given to people who have given long service to the community and nominated by the public.

Mrs Pierce was born and raised in Liverpool but moved to Horwich in 1981 to be closer to her family.

There she joined the WRVS, now named the Royal Voluntary Service, to help others and to meet like-minded people.

She helped out at the lunch and social club for the disabled and visually impaired at Horwich Leisure Centre and Horwich Resource Centre for 17 years, and also organised holidays to Llandudno for the 40 members of the club.

In addition, Mrs Pierce was a well known face to patients and visitors at the Royal Bolton Hospital, working in the WRVS shop and taking the refreshment trolley around the wards.

She was forced to give up her work with the WRVS because of ill health after receiving her 20 years long service medal.

But Mrs Pierce has continued to serve, and has been a member of the Horwich Visiting Service for the past ten years, helping lonely and vulnerable people.

She received her medal from Mayor of Horwich, Cllr Richard Sylvester, during a ceremony at Horwich Resource Centre, and shared the occasion with her newborn great-grandson James.

A spokesman for Horwich Town Council said: "Edith has served the people of Horwich for 33 years and still continues to be ready to help anybody in need and is an inspiration to all those who know her."