A MANCHESTER group which helps out homeless people and street sex workers has won a special award from the Queen for services to the community.

The group Barnabas offers help to these groups in the city with food, education and medical facilities.

It is one of 92 groups nationally which have won the prestigious annual award for groups of volunteers, announced by the Home Office Minister Paul Goggins, the MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East.

Talbot House Support Centre, which gives advice and support to parents of children with special needs in Manchester, and the Pakistani Community Centre, in Longsight, which provides social, domestic and leisure services to different communities, also picks up awards.

In addition there is an award for the Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team, which operates a mountain search and rescue service in rural parts of Lancashire.

Mr Goggins said the groups' outstanding voluntary activity had improved the quality of life and opportunity for others in the community.

Mr Goggins said: "The government actively supports the work of the voluntary and community sector and we want to encourage more people to take part. This award will give some to those people the recognition they richly deserve." Tweet