Keighley Soroptimists have chosen one of the town's Salvation Army leaders as their Woman of the Year.

The women's group chose Major May Hart in recognition of her work for the community, particularly for organising a meals service for homeless young people.

Major Hart says she has accepted the honour on behalf of the 50 volunteers from many local churches who help run the service.

She has jointly presided over Keighley's Salvation Army church with her husband, Major David Hart, for the past four years. She has been a Salvation Army officer for 29 years and served with David at several other branches in places such as Glasgow, Wales and Kent.

Major Hart, who will next month move with her husband to Chippenham in Wiltshire, says her time in Keighley has been challenging but rewarding. She says all other churches in Keighley and surrounding villages help keep the meals service open for three nights a week. The service will continue after she leaves the town.

Soroptimists' spokesman Kathleen Harrison says members wanted to highlight the great amount of work done in Keighley by the Salvation Army.

Major Hart is expected to be presented with her award at a Soroptimists meeting next month.

Runners-up in the Woman of the Year contest were: Sheila Turner, of Cowling, a member of the artists-for-charity group Yorkshire Itinerants; Lilian Holmes, of Albert Street, for her devotion to a blind neighbour's guide dog; and Mary Biggins, for her work with Haworth Community Centre and the British Legion poppy appeal.

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