Kim Wilde patrons charity that receives King's Award

Kim Wilde said she has had "great fun" working with volunteers at the charity site between Stevenage and Knebworth

Singer Kim Wilde has compared the charity she patrons receiving an award from the King to "getting an MBE".

Hertfordshire-based charity Waste Not Want Not received the King's Award for Voluntary Service.

The charity uses gardening as a therapeutic tool to help homeless people, ex-offenders and those with mental health issues.

During a visit to the charity's Roebuck site, near Stevenage, on Wednesday, Wilde said the award was "amazing".

The Kids In America singer, who enjoyed eight UK Top 10s, has been a patron of the charity since 2013.

"We celebrated our 15th anniversary this year and this is a fitting tribute to the support that hundreds of volunteers have given to the project during this time," she said.

Kim Wilde has praised the horticultural charity which she patrons, volunteers for and often visits to buy plants

The charity receives no guaranteed funding and relies on donations and the sale of plants grown at the Roebuck site.

The singer said: "I've worked here quite a lot, there's always something to do here and I buy lots of plants from here.

"It's a new award isn't it? It's like getting an MBE for voluntary services," the singer added.

Wilde added: Our primary aim is to support the social and environmental wellbeing of our community and we are all thrilled to receive this award".

The charity sells more than 15,000 plants every year

Myla Arceno, the mayor of Stevenage, said she was proud the charity had been recognised for their work.

"For them to have this recognition from the King's award is amazing, I am so proud of it," she said.

Representatives of Waste Not Want Not will receive the award from Robert Voss, the Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, in the coming months.