A north-east volunteer has received royal recognition for decades of tireless charity work.
Margaret Watt, 81, said she was “very surprised” when she learned she was going to be made an MBE.
The pensioner, who lives at a farm outside Fraserburgh, has taken part in a number of community-spirited drives across her life.
Mrs Watt says farming has always been her “main interest”, and she put her passion for horse riding to good use by helping out with The Pony Club charity.
The organisation helps train young people in how to look after and ride ponies and horses.
After spending time in the Girl Guides as a youngster, Mrs Watt remained a part of the Fraserburgh outfit and helped organise its various fundraisers and outings.
In her later years, she dedicated her efforts to raising money for the MacMillan Cancer Relief charity.
Last night, the octogenarian said she was “taken aback” when she learned that her years of community work had caught the eye of the Queen.
She said: “I was just so surprised, I didn’t think what I had done would deserve something like this.
“I’ve always been passionate about horses and ponies, and I was really happy to put that to good use when I was younger.”
Mrs Watt has four children, and currently lives in a farm house on land which is worked by one of her sons.
She was widowed in 2005, and still assists with secretarial work at the farm.