VOLUNTEERS at the Maid of the Loch paddle steamer have won praise for their efforts at the Scottish Parliament.

The Advertiser recently told how the Maid’s volunteer team had won the ‘group winner’ prize and a £500 donation from the National Historic Ships UK organisation and the Marsh Charitable Trust in recognition of their years of hard work restoring the historic paddle steamer, which has been out of service since 1981.

A motion laid down at the Scottish Parliament by Helensburgh and Lomond’s MSP, Jackie Baillie, congratulating the Maid’s team on their award and wishing them well for the future has so far attracted signatures of support from 24 MSPs at Holyrood from the Labour, Conservative, Green and SNP ranks.

The full motion reads: "That the parliament congratulates volunteers at the Maid of the Loch on being awarded the group winner prize and £500 by National Historic Ships UK and the Marsh Charitable Trust in recognition of their hard work; notes that the volunteers are at the heart of the restoration of the paddle steamer, docked at Balloch Pier, providing service to visitors and engineering work, as well as planning and management of financial, marketing and supply matters; acknowledges that the dream of restoring the Maid of the Loch to her former glory is possible due to the efforts of the 50-strong team of volunteers; thanks them for their work, and wishes them well for the future."