TWO community stalwarts who were named as British Empire Medal recipients in the Queen's birthday honours list have been highly praised for their work.

Effie Walker received her award for her 43 years working as a lollipop lady at Colgrain Primary School, while Mary Haggarty's award recognised a lifetime of service to the community in Arrochar, Tarbet and Ardlui.

Former Argyll and Bute provost Billy Petrie, a Helensburgh resident and a former deputy lieutenant of Dunbartonshire, said: “Effie is incredible. I don't think there's anyone with a record quite like hers. She is a past Citizen of the Year in Helensburgh and has made sure two and sometimes three generations of the same family have been able to cross the road safely to get to and from school.

“Colgrain Primary School have given her great support over the years and they, too, deserve to be praised.

“I had the good fortune of knowing Effie through all the local authorities I worked on over the years and she has always been highly respected.

“Mary, meanwhile, is 'Mrs Arrochar'. She was born in Arrochar, she loves the place, and she knows it better than anyone else.

“She has an unrivalled knowledge of Arrochar and its people, and wrote a history of the village which has been recognised all over Scotland.

“The awards for both Effie and Mary are richly deserved and long overdue.”

West of Scotland MSP and Helensburgh resident Maurice Corry added: “I'm absolutely thrilled for both Effie and Mary. They have worked tirelessly over the years and done an enormous amount for their respective communities.