A 'superstar' volunteer with the Teddington and Twickenham District branch of the RNLI, which covers Richmond, has received an award after raising £6.5k for the charity.

Mike, the organisation's Souvenirs secretary, was presented with the RNLI's Excellence in Volunteering award for his work in 2021.

A photo of Mike receiving the award was tweeted by the branch today (8 January).

The tweet read: "We surprised our superstar Souvenirs Secretary, Mike, with an Excellence in Volunteering award.

"Thoroughly deserved, Mike spent 2021 embracing every market and event possible taking our souvenir sales to a whopping £6,5k!

"Well done and thank you Mike!"

Commenting on the post, Teddington RNLI lifeboat station said: "Mike's enthusiasm has been truly inspiring!

"@RNLI couldn't launch our lifeboats without Mike and all of our amazing fundraisers across our great land."

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Teddington RNLI Helm Jon Chapman added: "Thoroughly deserved, great work Mike, couldn't do what we do without you and our other brilliant fundraisers."

The RNLI's Twickenham, Teddington and District fundraising branch also covers St. Margarets, Whitton, Sunbury and Ashford (Middx).

It has raised over £1.5 million for the lifeboat charity since being founded in 1959.

More than half of this has been raised since 2000 - recent events in Richmond borough include a silent auction and litter picks on the Thames Path.

You can learn more about the branch and how to support it HERE.

The branch is on Twitter at @RNLITwickTedd.

Teddington Lifeboat station opened in 2002 and recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.

The station is one of four on the Thames and last year dealt with a wide range of incidents including a whale at the Teddington Lock.

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Find out more about the lifeboat station and volunteering HERE