Environmentalist charity Action for the River Kennet has crowned two people as Volunteers of the Year in recognition of their work for the good cause.

Judges were unable to split the pair's dedication to ARK over the last 12 months and so both were celebrated.

Dr Rodney Owen-Jones and Judy Pitts were presented the award by ARK’s chairman Richard Clarke at the charity's annual general meeting last night in Marlborough Town Hall.

Dr Owen-Jones appeared on BBC One's Country File in the summer as an ARK volunteer and has been monitoring 18 river fly sites for ARK research since 2012.

Ms Pitts has volunteered with ARK for more than four years by teaching school groups about the river. She also helps keep track of ARK’s livestock.

ARK’s director, Charlotte Hitchmough said: “The 2017 Volunteer of the Year awards were presented to two equally worthy winners Dr Rodney Owen Jones and Judy Pitts.

“The data Rodney has diligently collected form a critical part of ARK’s understanding of the state of the river, and an early warning of pollution.

“Judy works with school groups as well as monitoring riverflies, water voles, trout spawning and water quality and helping with practical tasks and keeping an eye on ARK’s livestock.

ARK volunteers have clocked up an impressive 6,500 hours of work in the last 12 months.