MINEHEAD couple John and Joan Staniland are to receive an award today (Friday) in recognition of their work with people with mental health problems.

It is being given by the Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust and will be presented by chairman of the South West region of the NHS Janet Trotter.

John, a 72-year-old formed teacher, and Joan, aged 68, became involved in running a club for people with mental health problems when they retired in 1983.

They were invited by social services to help out at the newly formed Townsend Club, which meets weekly at the British Red Cross building.

Now they have decided to retire for a second time.

John, who organised the transport, said: "We have valued getting to know members as friends.

"When we ran fundraising events, the public did not know who was running the club and who were members - and that was a huge compliment to the way in which we all got on together."

Trust chairman Christina Baron said John and Joan had made an important difference to the lives of many needy and vulnerable people over the past 15 years..

"Many people when discharged from hospital find it difficult to return to independent living in the community and quickly go back to hospital," she said.

"But with the social support and care provided by the club run by John and Joan Staniland, a number of people who would otherwise have been in hospital have been able to adjust to living in the community.

"This couple have done a huge amount of work week in, week out for many years, which has had an enormous impact on the lives of people with mental health problems in the town."