A CHARITY which helps search for and rescue vulnerable missing people has been honoured by the Queen.

Wiltshire Search and Rescue (WILSAR) were among this year’s winners of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for groups of volunteers who work in their local community for the benefit of others.

The national honour recognises outstanding voluntary contributions and sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering.

WILSAR exists to search for missing vulnerable people, including those suffering from dementia, those who are despondent, lost children or people who have had accidents while out walking or biking.

The group even helped in the hunt for Sian O’Callaghan at Savernake Forest, near Marlborough, who disappeared outside Suju nightclub in March.

But after several days the search was called off when her body was found near Uffington, in Oxfordshire.

Minicab driver Chris Halliwell, 47, of Nythe, is on remand charged with Sian’s murder, and that of Becky Godden-Edwards, to appear at Bristol Crown Court on July 14.

The charity has 50 fully-trained and qualified operational search technicians, all of whom are volunteers and receive no payment for their time or costs.

WILSAR chairman Steve Upton said: “I am over the moon. This is a tremendous achievement to receive recognition for the work we do in the local community and the whole team should feel very proud of themselves.”

This year’s 130 recipients were selected from 413 groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a group’s work in their community.

Other Swindon charities who were recognised in this year’s list were the Open Door Centre, based in Gorse Hill, and Pathfinders.

All three will receive a certificate signed by the Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty’s representative in Wiltshire John Bush, Esq, OBE, JP at a special ceremony.

The groups have also received an invitation for representatives to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace next month.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Award Committee chairman, former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE, said: “Volunteer groups make such an important contribution to their communities, often without praise for the incredible job they do.

“In these difficult times their efforts are even more valuable.

“It’s a pleasure to celebrate the achievements of WILSAR with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and give official recognition for the benefits they bring to others’ lives.”