THE Upton branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute has won an award from the charity's national committee in recognition of its fundraising efforts.

John and Sylvia Pountney picked up the special Branch Award at a regional conference held at Shenstone, near Kidderminster.

John is chairman/secretary of the Upton branch and Sylvia is souvenir secretary.

The branch regularly raises more than £5,000 each year.

Its income is mainly derived from a successful house-to- house collection and coffee evenings.