A MUSEUM showcasing buses from Oxford’s history has received an award from the Queen.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Tim Stevenson announced that the Oxford Bus Museum, in Long Hanborough, has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Established half-a-century ago, the museum aims to tell the story of road transport around the county from the introduction of the first horse drawn tram service in 1881 through to 2000.

It is the first road transport museum to receive such an award and acknowledges over 50 years of restoration by volunteers without ever having any paid staff.

Mr Stevenson said: “I am delighted that the hard work and dedication of this group has been recognised by this prestigious award.”

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities.

It was created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of the Queen’s coronation and is considered the MBE for volunteer groups.

Only about 200 awards are made nationally each year.

One of the Museum’s directors, Chris Butterfield stated that it was a great honour to receive the award which recognised our volunteers’ hard work over 50 years of bus preservation in Oxfordshire.

He said: “The Award has given the volunteers a fillip in the preparations for the annual rally on July 29.”