A TIRELESS Port Glasgow community worker was rewarded with an invitation to see the Queen at a garden party in Edinburgh.

Betty Stewart, 67, has been a voluntary and full-time worker for 30 years and is still going strong.

She was nominated to attend a Palace of Holyroodhouse party by the council's community learning and development department to recognise her contribution over the decades.

Mum-of-two Betty said she had a wonderful day at the party.

She said: "I thought it was a joke at first when I heard I had been invited.

"I didn't actually get to speak to the Queen, but it was great to be standing very close to her.

"I went there with my husband, Douglas, and we both had a marvellous time.

"Her Majesty was so looking so happy to meet the guests, as was the Duke of Edinburgh.

"And, as if by Royal command, the weather was bright and sunny at times. It was just perfect." Betty started as a volunteer by setting up a summer playscheme for children in St Stephen's High and then also volunteered to run a tea bar at a youth club in Port Glasgow High.

She went on to study social work at James Watt College and Glasgow University and landed a job as a 'key worker' at the social work Redholm Children's Home in Port Glasgow.

Betty has also worked with drug addicts and still volunteers for the community, helping with Inverclyde's Wider Opportunities for Older People (Woopi) project.

This is best known for its singing, but Betty is involved with helping to run classes for sewing, dress making and basic computing.

She said: "I'm volunteering at the youth club at Clune Park Resource Centre. I want to keep working with young and elderly people because I enjoy it so much.

"I'm also very keen on animals. I've always had dogs and I collect blankets for bedding at the SSPCA cat and dog home in Cardonald."