Honour for marvellous Margaret

The season of goodwill lasts all year round for one tireless Black Country pensioner who has been given an award for being one of the best neighbours in town.

Great-grandmother Margaret Peach spends little time on herself as she is so busy making sure her neighbours are well-fed and their cupboards fully stocked.

Not only does Mrs Peach, aged 72, of Hilton Close, Bloxwich, cook Sunday dinner for four neighbours but she makes tea everyday for two of them.

She has helped decorate several of their flats, shops for a number and regularly keeps one neighbour company in the evening with a game of cards and a chat over a cup of tea.

This is all on top of staying in touch with her large family of five children, 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Neighbour Valerie Selvey, 52, is among those who enjoy one of Mrs Peach's home-cooked roast dinners. She said: "Margaret is a wonderful woman. I don't know where she gets her energy from. Her dinners are so big, I often save some for supper."

Mrs Peach, known as the spirit of Hilton Close, was nominated for a Community Spirit reward, Walsall Housing Group's customer recognition scheme.

Judges were so impressed by her activities they awarded her first prize in the good neighbour category. Mrs Peach said: "When I first moved in here everyone kept to themselves, now its a real community.

"I have to kill time because I'm not idle so I'm always looking for things to do. I really love Sundays when all the plates are out ready for dinner."