A dedicated volunteer at veterinary charity PDSA’s animal cemetery has been shortlisted in its annual Volunteer Awards for his outstanding passion and commitment.

Steve Plastow, 57, of Ilford, who has been volunteering at the charity for over five years, is up against other hopefuls in the Special Achievement category.

Mr Plastow, who first got involved after responding to an advert for volunteers in 2007, has been helping out ever since, carrying out gardening duties and conducting tours of the site.

He said: “Thinking that there would be a large number of people there I turned up with all my tools only to find out that there was about a half a dozen of us.

“It was a great two days and after a further visit me and my friends had restored over 50 graves.”

The PDSA Volunteer Awards are now in their tenth year and are supported by Volunteering England and Pets at Home.