A VOLUNTARY group which has visited thousands of students to warn of the perils of smoking has received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

The presentation to the Liskeard Breathers was made in front of more than 100 group members, friends and guests by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall.

The Queen's Award is the equivalent of an MBE for groups, vice chairman Joe Barr explained.

The Liskeard group for sufferers of long- term COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) was set up in 2006 by Joe and fellow patient Mick Elliott with seven members.

Since then members have spoken to around 9,500 students to educate them about the damage caused by smoking.

The group has been asked to act as a role model for other Breathers groups starting out in Cornwall.

'We were started by patients and are run by patients for patients - we'd encourage anyone with long-term conditions to please come and join us, for the social aspect and the support offered,' said Joe.

Present at the ceremony to congratulate the group were Georgina Praed, NHS Cornwall head of prescribing, Jenny Atkinson of Age UK Cornwall, and Rachel Murray, NHS Cornwall programme manager for long-term conditions.