A WINCHESTER Girl Guide has been celebrating after she was given the ultimate accolade of the Queen’s Guide Award.

Charlotte Bell, 21, of Weston Colley, spent several years completing a series of demanding challenges to achieve the highest honour a Guide can receive.

The leader of the 2nd South Wonston Guides was presented with the prestigious award by Chief Guide Gill Slocombe at a special ceremony held at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London last month.

A final year maths student at the University of Bath, Charlotte travelled to India to work with a charity helping sex workers as part of the challenges set out within the award’s criteria. She also visited international guiding centre Our Cabana in Mexico and helped to build houses. Ms Bell said: “Joining Guides is the best thing I have ever done. I have met wonderful people from all over the world. I have travelled the world and I am one hundred times more confident then when I started.”

Chief guide, Gill Slocombe, said: “The Queen’s Guide Award embodies all that’s best about guiding. The adventures that recipients experience, the skills they learn and the friendships and confidence they build will last a lifetime - and prove immensely valuable as they pursue their goals in life.

“This challenge has helped them become confident, skilled, self-reliant young women ready to make a positive difference to the world around them, and I have no doubt that they will.”