A WEST Devon woman narrowly missed out in being crowned ITV's local hero in the Pride of Britain awards — but said she was 'honoured' to make it to the final four.

Mary Worth from Princetown, who helped set up the Tavistock Physically Challenged Group, was nominated for the award for her volunteering efforts over the last 20 years.

Mary has been dealing with extreme illness herself, while volunteering and providing support to Leonard Cheshire Disability and members of the Tavistock Physically Challenged Group.

Mary said she got gradually drawn into volunteering after looking after a lady with MS, and then joined the physically challenged group herself as a member.

After being nominated, Mary said: 'I feel honoured to be nominated, it came as a shock — I was gobsmacked!

'I've got to be grateful to retired accountant Bryn Dando who helps Tavistock Physically Challenged Group by doing the books for us. I would never have been able to keep the group going without his help, he has always been there for me.

'The members of the group are also fantastic, I couldn't wish for a better group.'

Mary was nominated for the award by patron of the Tavistock Physically Challenged Group, Billie Burnett.

In her nomination, Billie said: 'Mary helped to form Tavistock Physically Challenged Group over 20 years ago, to provide mutual support, solidarity and warm friendship for a group of people in the local community who have physical disabilities, many of whom would, without this group's support, be completely housebound.

'Mary organises the twice monthly get-togethers, talks and outings, sorts out the necessary transport, books the venues, looks after the volunteers, reimbursing their out-of-pocket expenses, as well as arranging regular street collections, and making jams and chutneys herself to help raise enough money to cover all the costs.

'She is a brilliant friend to all the members, always putting them first, being throughout totally and selflessly committed and generous to a fault.

'She stays cheerful and determined — all this is a daunting enough task for anyone in good health — in spite of herself being in constant pain and great discomfort with arthritis, diabetes, bronchitis, eye problems and a severely damaged spine in urgent need of an operation.

'She is quite simply an extraordinary person and nothing short of a human lifeline for the members of the group.

'She truly deserves public recognition which, to my knowledge, she has never received.

'Mary has a heart as big as Dartmoor. She is pure gold.'

West Devon Enabling co-ordinator for Leonard Cheshire Disability, Alexandra Dixon-Greenfield, said: 'Mary puts in many hours as a befriender and enabler to people in the community who have become isolated.

'Her huge work load and brilliance at doing all these things while she has so many illnesses herself has been recognised with this nomination and for her to have reached the final four from the whole of the south west is amazing.

'We all felt Mary deserved this award as she really goes over and above anything you could ever expect of a volunteer.'

Mary narrowly missed out on the ITV Local Hero award, with Anne Scarfe from Plymouth announced as the winner last week.