An amazing Alexandria woman has been crowned Age Scotland’s Volunteer of the Year.

Eva McKellar, who turns 80 next month, has been at the heart of Age Concern Vale of Leven for the past two decades.

One of her and the group’s biggest achievements is buying, furnishing and making accessible a Seton Sands caravan where members enjoy weeklong summer holidays at a reasonable cost.

Eva oversees this large annual project by making sure the caravan is maintained, laundering sheets and ensuring the group members have an enjoyable stay.

She was presented with her award by Anita Manning from the BBC’s Bargain Hunt at a ceremony at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on March 20 as her proud daughter Margot Proctor watched on.

Eva said: “I was gobsmacked (to get the award).

“It is quite an honour really, but I felt it wasn’t just for me, it was for the rest of the committee as well. Every one of the committee members work hard.

“It was amazing to see the different categories. People don’t realise there is so much going on with older people. Some of things they do are fantastic and I was really interested just to see how many volunteers there are out there doing things.”

The 79-year-old first became involved in Age Concern Vale of Leven after walking into the local community centre 20 years ago to escape the rain and realising that the group was on.

Later that year at the Christmas dinner, the committee announced it was closing and along with two friends, she decided to take action to save the group and make sure it kept running.

She added: “There was a lady there, who was about 93 and she burst into tears and asked if anyone would take it on.

“Over Christmas me and my two pals talked about it and thought it was a shame, because there were people who had been in it for years.

“We just started from there. We do four trips a year, we have an entertainer every alternate month and bingo.”

Read more: Bonhill Primary pupil Harry saves sister's life after she chokes on chocolate button

Eva is not, however, the first person in her family to receive a prestigious award in recent times.

Her great-grandson and Bonhill Primary pupil Harry Crossan hit the headlines last year and was named Youth Champion at the Provost's Civic Awards after springing into action to save his toddler sister who was choking on a chocolate button.

It certainly seems helping others is in Eva’s blood and treasurer Kate Coleman, who nominated the great-grandmother for the award, couldn’t agree more.

She told the Reporter: “I nominated Eva due to all she does for the club. Eva takes members to and from the caravan in Port Seton every Saturday and acts as an escort on the minibus.

“She organises all the outings, entertainment and caravan holidays and looks for funding to keep the group running. Nothing is an effort, the time and energy she puts into the club is phenomenal.”

Brian Sloan, Age Scotland’s chief executive added: “We’re absolutely delighted to award Eva our Volunteer of the Year award.

“She is an inspirational volunteer who has dedicated the last 20 years to the Vale of Leven’s older people.

“She’s an incredible fundraiser and through her tireless efforts she purchased and maintains a caravan at Seton Sands for the use of Age Concern Vale of Leven members and that every detail including transport is arranged.

“We celebrate Eva and her passionate pursuit of accessible and affordable holidays and leisure activities for the community’s older people.”

The costs associated with maintaining the caravan, such as insurance and water rates, are rising and if any local businesses or residents would like to donate to help meet these costs please contact the group on Facebook.