A SEXUAL health charity has been given a top award and £35,000 for its innovative services.

Metro, which has offices in Woolwich and Greenwich, is one of only three organisations to receive a GlaxoSmithKline Gold Champions Impact Award, which will see it given the money alongside a training development programme.

A previous award winner in 2007, judges looked at how Metro had developed since then, establishing 59 new projects for groups inlcuding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

It also supports people under 25 and those living with HIV, providing services including sexual health information, screening, testing, treatment and counselling.

Metro chief executive Marguerite McLaughlin said: "We've been on an incredible journey of diversification and growth, which has meant that we have been able to increase our reach and support more people than ever before."

For more on Metro, visit metrocentreonline.org