A grandmother has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year's Honours list for her decades of fundraising for a hospice.

Mary Cutler's fundraising for Grove House Hospice in St Albans ensured that in 1995 the charity was able to build and equip a hairdressing salon, which has continued to serve patients over the years.

From 1994 to 2013, she and her friend Margaret Hill raised more than £50,000 for the hospice.

Mrs Cutler, of Beech Road, said: "I was absolutely shocked when I got the cabinet letter - I didn't know what it was, I thought 'what have I done?'

"But as I thought Grove House must have put me forward, I thought I'd better accept. It's been very difficult keeping the secret, but now all my family know and they're very proud."

In 2013 Mrs Hill died, but Mrs Cutler has carried on fundraising for the hospice.

She said: "I feel it's a bit sad that we did all this together and Margaret sadly passed away two years ago - we used to be called the M&M's.

"I'm keeping the fundraising going, but not as much as we used to together."

The 77-year-old has continued to support the hospice by running a monthly stall at the local hospital, organising coffee mornings and selling the largest number of raffle tickets of any single supporter of the charity.

She publicises the work of the charity and encourages people to provide support either through volunteering or donations.

Nobody in the St Albans area has raised as much money and awareness over such a sustained period of time.

Mrs Cutler also runs a club for blind people in Berkhamsted and runs a sugar icing class in St Albans.