A charity that won an award at an annual horticultural show for its honey says it will be entering a national show later this year.

Harrow Samaritans, based in Station Road, won the award at the Harrow in Leaf Horticultural show last month.

The charity has three busy bee hives in the back garden of its headquarters that produce the prize winning honey.

Harrow branch director Rosy Carter said: “One of our long-serving volunteers Ron Levin is a keen apiarist and came up with the idea of keeping a hive in the branch’s back garden.

“We intended to have just a couple of hives, then earlier year one swarmed, fortunately into a friendly neighbour’s garden and we were able retrieve them for a third.

“A lot of our volunteers have become very interested in the project, many helping out with inspections, looking after the bees, and the all-important harvest.

“This year we gathered an amazing 93lbs which we pass onto volunteers in return for vital fundraising donations.

“As first timers we had little expectation and were amazed and absolutely delighted with the result which encourages us to put our ‘listening honey’ forward to the event more prestigious National Honey Show in October.”

Volunteer at the charity and assistant bee keeper Terry Emery said: “We were absolutely delighted about winning.

“People may think a town centre is an odd place to have a hive, but there are loads of flowers in gardens and parks which provide an untapped source of nectar for the bees.”

Harrow Samaritans is the borough’s branch of the national charity which offers people confidential, emotional support via phone 24 hours a day.

The Harrow branch was founded in 1965 and is run entirely by volunteers who during the last year answered more than 17,000 calls for the borough alone.

Those interested in volunteering for the charity can call its dedicated recruitment line on 0208 427 5000.