A PLUCKY 25-year-old, who has been deaf since birth, and her mum, were among more than 200 volunteers who received awards in recognition of their excellent work.

All the award winners had completed at least 100 hours of volunteering in the local community - a remarkable 20,000 hours in total.

A high point of the ceremony at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Ealing Common last Friday was the awards to mother and daughter, Mussarrat and Nida Hanid, who have been volunteering together at SNIPS, a toddlers' playgroup in West Ealing.

Mussarrat, who volunteered first in 2008, was then joined by Nida in 2009 when she saw how much her mother enjoyed it.

Nida helped set up the sessions, advised mums and helped with arts and crafts activities.

She said she did not find her deafness a problem and plans to go back when she completes her studies at Southall College.

Nida said: "Once you start you don't want to stop - it's lots of fun and you get so much back."

The award winners were presented with certificates by the Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Barbara Yerolemou. Martin Smith, Ealing Council's chief executive, was a special guest.

Lizzie Saunders, manager of Ealing Volunteer Centre, said: "Mussarrat and Nida are shining examples of the contribution that volunteers make to our community. Volunteering has helped them move on in their lives, and they have found it to be fun and rewarding."

Since the '100 hours' awards scheme was introduced three years ago, volunteers have clocked up a total of 100,000 hours of voluntary service.

The award-winners volunteer at 38 organisations, including Action Acton, Acton Homeless Concern, Age Concern Ealing, Centre for Armenian Information & Advice, Descendants, Ealing Association for the Blind, Ealing Community & Voluntary Service, Ealing Stroke Club and Ealing Victim Support.

The awards ceremony was organised by Ealing Volunteer Centre, which is part of Ealing Community and Voluntary Service, the umbrella support charity for voluntary organisations.