A GROUP of volunteers who transport blood, organs and more to hospitals to help save lives have been honoured with te Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

Merseyside and Cheshire Blood Bikes, which has 122 volunteers which work between Whiston, Warrington General and Alder Hey Children's Hospitals as well as Clatterbridge Cancer Centre to name a few, work around the clock to support the NHS by transporting blood, organs, tissue samples and breast milk.

This is all done in their spare time, and has saved hundreds of lives since starting in 2012.

St Helens Star:

The Lord Lieutenant and Chairman of MCBB Simon Dennett

To thank them for their selfless work, they have been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service which aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities.

This was handed to them on Friday, August 2 by the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire.

Simon Dennett, Chairman of the MCBB said “This award has brought a very much deserved boost to our members, their dedication and commitment without hope of reward is humbling to witness.

"Their passion in the service we deliver have been recognised by her Majesty. The entire group is bursting with pride and we look forward to the recognition which accompanies it."

Rebecca Lee-Hagger, volunteer, added: "All our volunteers are bike enthusiasts and help save the lives of others, whilst riding our bikes.

"Many of of volunteers use their own bikes, others ride are marked bikes, aptly named 'Vampire Bikes'.

"As a charity we solely rely on donations from the public to keep us going and as we save the NHS in our area roughly £200,000 a year - our efforts and any exposure we can get is needed."

To find out more about MCBB email Rebecca.lee-hagger@mcbloodbikes.org