A STOW charity leader is celebrating after accepting a prestigious award on behalf of her organisation.

Deborah Alsina MBE, who is chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, picked up the Charity of the Year Award - for charities with an income of between £1m and £10m - at the Charity Times Awards 2016.

The glittering awards night was held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London, on Wednesday, September 28.

Mrs Alsina, who was made an MBE in the Queen's 90th Birthday Honours, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have won the Charity of the Year award. It is a great tribute to our highly committed staff team and our fantastic volunteers and supporters, without whom none of this would be possible.

"As a charity we are determined to save lives and improve the quality of life for all those affected by bowel cancer and it’s fantastic that our work has been recognised in this way."

The charity scooped the accolade for championing early diagnosis of bowel cancer, and for improving access to best treatment and care for people closely affected by the disease.

It was also shortlisted for the Campaigning Team of the Year for its Never Too Young campaign, which aimed to improve the diagnosis, treatment and care of bowel cancer sufferers under the age of 50.

Now in its 17th year, the Charity Times Awards celebrates best practice in the UK charity and not-for-profit sector.

For more information about Bowel Cancer UK visit bowelcanceruk.org.uk