A GROUP of volunteers who work tirelessly to keep the streets of Dunbar litter-free have received a top accolade at the town’s community awards.

Dunbar Against Litter collected the Stephen Bunyan Award in recognition of their efforts to clean up the town which featured a campaign to encourage residents to adopt an area or street.

The group came to the fore last year when it launched a Facebook page which saw it recruit up to 100 new members to its campaign.

The awards, organised by Dunbar Community Council, were held on Monday evening in the Town House and saw a wide range of local volunteers and community groups recognised for all their efforts.

Volunteer Yvonne Wemyss received the Community Council Award for her work with local events, from the annual Christmas lights to Sparkling Dunbar Music Festival.

Yvonne, a member of Dunbar Harbour Trust committee, is also a director of the Community Craft Company which was set up to provide new opportunities for community events. She also volunteers with Dunbar Against Litter.

And former Dunbar Grammar School student Darren Brown received the Bowe Cup for young people as he was hailed an inspiration to others.

Darren is the first modern apprentice from The Ridge, a charity which supports people into employment in the town; he has gone from being a member of the Grammar School’s garden group, which supported pupils, to a talented stonemason, as well as a role model to other young people following in his footsteps.

Pippa Swan, community council chair, said the awards had demonstrated the wide range of contributions made to the town by people and groups of all ages.

She said: “The nominations covered a diverse range of people of all ages whose contributions are fundamental, whether they are leading events or groups, supporting people in their schools or picking up litter. A lot of what happens in our community, people can think happens by magic, but behind the magic are these individuals and groups and this is a chance to recognise them.”

Senior special recognition certificates went to community supporters James Craig Page, Pauline Jaffray and Gill Last at the event. Team certificates were also presented to Dunbar Dementia Carers’ Support Group; Dunbar Grammar School’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award organisers; Dunbar Primary School’s mentoring team; Dunbar Public Convenience Attendant team; Dunbar RNLI/Fire Service’s Christmas Lights Support Team and Dunbar United Colts’ girls’ coaching team. Recipients of the Junior Awards certificates were Keiran Fairbairn, Struan Lugton and Taylor Wilson.