A grandfather who has devoted the past two years to improving life for his neighbours has scooped a national award.
Robin Maudsley, 57, works tirelessly to help rid his community of crime problems, despite battling ill health.
He spearheaded the introduction of a CCTV scheme on Meadow Street in Deepdale that has helped cut crime.
His efforts have been recognised by the National Association for Neighbourhood Management (NANM) who presented Robin and his wife Pat with a Volunteer of the Year award at the Aston Conference Centre in Birmingham.
Despite having a medical heart procedure two days before the awards, Robin said: "I was going even if I had to be carried!
"I didn't expect to win but was determined to go if I did. It wasn't just for me, it was for all the residents and the local police.
"We were presented with a glass paperweight that looked like a gravestone, but it's the honour that's important – it shows we've got a community worth fighting for."
Robin and Pat, who have lived in Meadow Street for 35 years, brought up their four children there and were shocked at the changes when Preston Infirmary closed.
The area, which gleaned trade from the steady flow of visitors and staff, became quiet and in came prostitutes, drug dealing and crime.
Robin, a former television engineer, retired because of his bad health in 2000 and was at home to witness the issues.
It is just over 12 months since his neighbours invited the Evening Post to spend an evening in their home to witness the problems on their doorsteps from drug dealers, hoodies and prostitutes touting for trade.
When the area's neighbourhood management board Prime Focus revealed it had funding for a CCTV scheme - but nobody to take ownership of the cameras - Robin got 15 residents to form Community, Residents and Businesses (CRaB).
>> Vote in our latest web pollPreston & Proud: Taking pride in our cityHe said: "The CCTV scheme has brought Deepdale together again, everybody was genuinely pleased."
