AN agricultural society in Dorset has been awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service. 

The Melplash Agricultural Society, who organise the Melplash Show, is one of the four organisations in Dorset to recieve the award this year. 

The Kings Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award a voluntary group can receive and is the equivalent to an MBE. It recognises groups that do things differently, consistently and outstandingly well. 

Society director, James Vickery, said the award is 'such an amazing achievement' for the group. 

He said: "We, The Melplash Agricultural Society, are delighted that the dedication, hard work and enthusiasm of all our volunteers, committee members and stewards, who work tirelessly throughout the year,  has been recognised.  Thank you so much, this award belongs to you all."

The society relies on hundreds of volunteers each year to deliver activities they have arranged in order to meet their charitable objectives. These objectives include: to support and promote local agriculture and to educate young people. 

As well as organising the Melplash Show, the society organises all the competitions held prior and after the event as well as their education programme, Discover Farming. 

Representatives from the society will receive the award from Angus Campbell, Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, later this year. As well as this, two volunteers will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2024, alongside other recipients of the award.