Exeter’s much-loved Red Coat Guided Tours – a team of volunteer guides - has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The Red Coats, a familiar sight around Exeter, operate throughout the year. The free guided walking tours offer visitors the perfect way to explore Exeter and get to know the city’s history.

Representatives from the Red Coats Guided Tours attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

The Red Coats are one of 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations and awards has increased year on year since the awards were introduced in 2002, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Winners are announced each year on 2 June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.

Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse. They include volunteers helping people overcome mental health problems through sport, volunteers using caravans as mobile cafe/information centres in geographically remote locations and another group mentoring children who have a parent in prison.

Representatives of the Red Coats will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant of Devon later this summer.

Cllr Rachel Sutton, Lead Councillor for Climate and Culture, said she would like to congratulate the Red Coats for winning the award: “I am delighted with this news. The Red Coat Guides are much loved and for many, the welcoming face of Exeter.

“They do a fantastic job in promoting the city and work tirelessly as volunteers, passing on their passion and knowledge of Exeter to everyone who comes to this great city.”