THE team behind a much-loved children's care service which ran for more than 20 years in Port Glasgow received the Judges' Special Recognition Award.

Hammy's Out of School Care operated for 23 years in Hamilton Bardrainney Church before closing its doors in July 2022.

Even after the service ended, the team of trustees, led by Ruby Anderson, made sure that Hammy's continued to make a difference by donating £5,000 to children's charities. 

The Community Champion Awards judges decided that Ruby, Katie McIntosh and Marilyn Swankie, deserved to be honoured for their dedication to the children and families of the Port. 

Ruby said she was 'so shocked' to receive the award at the Greenock Telegraph Community Champion Awards on Friday evening. 

She added: "Hammy's was such a big part of Port Glasgow for so many years. 

"It's lovely to receive the award and be recognised in this way. 

"It shows how much the service meant to people.

"We were really sad to close in the end but we kept going for a couple of years with the reserve that we had.

"It was hugely important and really helped families.

"Some of the single mums we knew were able to go to university, and that wouldn't have been possible without Hammy's."