TWO women have scooped national awards for their dedicated volunteering at Winchester Prison.

Penny Beveridge and Jennie Espiner have been recognised for their work with Spurgeons, a charity which runs the Invisible Walls programme to support fathers in custody and their families.

They were inducted to the Spurgeons Volunteer of the Year Hall of Fame at a special ceremony at the prison's visitor centre.

Ms Beveridge, 75, of Compton Road, has been volunteering in the play area once every three weeks for more than 20 years.

Her nomination by Invisible Walls said she has stuck with it through thick and thin and without her support there would be no provision for visiting children.

The retired teacher won the top award and said: "It's great, I'm very pleased. I was a runner up last year, so I was not really expecting it."

Ms Espiner, 66, also a retired teacher, of Stockbridge Road, was the runner up. She said: "I'm overwhelmed. I volunteered because I thought I could do something useful. I do it, I love it and work with great people who are enormously inspirational."

She works with families in the children's play area and directly with fathers in custody.

In support of her nomination one father said: "[She] made me realise being a dad is an amazing thing and I know that they need me out there and being away from them is no good.

"They need my hugs and kisses and I need theirs, I miss taking my girls to the park and playing with them."

The awards were given during National Volunteers Week.