A director at a Bromley charity has been honoured at the National Diversity Awards.

Founding Artistic Director of Bromley based charity, Magpie Dance, Avril Hitman BEM received a Lifetime Achievers Award last Friday (September 8).

The ceremony was hosted by Scissor Sisters singer Ana Matronic and Scissor Sisters singer Ana Matronic and was set up to reward people fighting against inequality.

Ms Hitman beat seven others to get the award.

She said: "I’m honoured and delighted to have received this prestigious award for my work with Magpie Dance over the last 32 years.

"I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who voted and has supported me over many years.

"The National Diversity Awards highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion in society and I’m very proud to be the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achiever Award."

A record 22,000 nominations and votes were received this year. A spokesperson from the Award organisers said: "After decades of supporting thousands of people with learning disabilities through the art of dance, Avril Hitman BEM received the prestigious lifetime achiever award.

"A list of tremendous achievements were recognised by judges, including Avril’s determination to challenge perceptions surrounding disability and impacting on the wider world of dance, health and education."

Magpie Dance are based at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley and run dance classes, summer schools and workshops for people with learning disabilities in Bromley and across the UK.