A married couple from Chacewater have been recognised for their outstanding services to retired greyhounds.

Geoff and Lynn Pearce received a special award at the Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s awards ceremony held in London on January 27.

The couple said: “We were very pleased and surprised to be nominated. We work tirelessly, as do all Greyhound Trust Branches, and we are immensely proud of our passionate volunteers.

"Greyhounds make fantastic pets and it is a real joy to find homes for greyhounds and see them start a new life with their families.”

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain is the regulator of licensed greyhound racing. Its annual awards recognise the most committed, hard-working and inspirational people in greyhound racing as well as the stars of the sport – the greyhounds themselves.

Geoff and Lynn saw off strong competition from an exceptional field of nominees to receive the Greyhound Trust Founders Award for Services to Retired Greyhounds.

Their commitment to greyhounds stems back some 36 years when their daughter fell in love with a greyhound in a homing kennel.They adopted the greyhound and shortly after moving to Cornwall, they began fundraising and fostering for Ann Shannon – one of the founding branch members of the Greyhound Trust.

Geoff and Lynn went on to found Greyhound Trust Cornwall in 2010 and have helped to home thousands of greyhounds ever since.

Lisa Morris-Tomkins, Chief Executive of the Greyhound Trust, said: “It was a joy to meet Geoff and Lynn once again and to formally recognise their long-standing services to greyhounds by personally handing them their award. They are certainly deserving winners.”