A GROUP helping Muslims throughout West Yorkshire has won a top award.

The Indian Muslim Welfare Society has received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services.

Officials were presented with a certificate signed by the Queen and a crystal trophy to display at their headquarters at the Al-Hilmah Centre in Batley.

The presentation was made by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, to society chairman Bashir Karolia.

The award was presented during Islamic Awareness Week.

Dr Roscoe toured the centre to find out more about the work of the group, which has 16,000 members.

It was founded in 1957 to meet the needs of Indian immigrants to the area.

Now, the society reaches a wider community, hosting conferences and seminars on topics such as education, training, health awareness and careers advice.

It has links to mosques across the district and also works with councils, colleges and the fire service.

The group was one of 693 entries in the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services scheme.