A WOMAN who has dedicated her life to helping people recover from drug addiction has been recognised by the Queen in the Birthday Honours list.

Great-grandmother Margaret Diamond, 77, a senior project worker at Jericho House - a 16-bed drug rehabilitation unit in Bank Street, Greenock - is to receive the British Empire Medal for services to drug rehabilitation.

She told the Tele how she was 'stunned' at news of the award.

Margaret said: "I came home from work and I saw the letter and it said Her Majesty's Service and to be honest I thought 'oh my God, it's the tax man looking for money'.

"Then I opened it - I thought it was a joke as they are always playing jokes on me in work.

"When I realised it was real it was such a shock, I couldn't take it in."

It was about 30 years ago that Margaret first decided to help people suffering from addiction.

After speaking to a friend who was a Carmelite nun in Dumbarton, she volunteered to help out at a rehabilitation centre based in Cardross in West Dunbartonshire.

From there, she worked at a rehab centre in Glasgow's west end for 13 years and with the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Margaret, at the request of Father Jim Ferguson, along with Jericho manager Paul Cook, then helped set up Jericho House in 2002.

The thriving facility, run by the Jericho Benedictine Society, was initially based in Port Glasgow before it moved to Bank Street in 2009.

It now has 10 staff and eight volunteers and was recently awarded top marks in a Care Inspectorate report.

Michael Trail, unit manager, said all the staff and volunteers are so proud of Margaret.

He said: "We are absolutely delighted for Margaret.

"She tries to hide away but it's important that all the hard work she has done for years and years is recognised.

"We all owe our careers to Margaret, as she has nutured us and built up a brilliant staff team.

"She is the beating heart of Jericho and her legacy will keep spreading."

Just as proud are Margaret's two grandaughters, Nicola Eadie (Diamond) and Laura Diamond.

Margaret said: "Nicola and Laura have been a wonderful support for me and jumped up and down for joy when they heard."