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A dedicated referee has received a national award for his services to football.

Richard Webb, of Bergamot Road, Haverhill, travels down to West London every weekend to referee a match. He has also sat on the West London Sunday League committee for the past 11 years.

Mr Webb, 32, was given the full VIP treatment at the Charity Shield game on Sunday, when the award was presented by the Football Association.

Mr Webb told the News before he left to collect the award: "They are even letting me drive into the Millennium Stadium to use the car park there, so I'd better give the car a wash.

"I understand that five people are being given this award nationally ­ I don't know why they chose me and I don't think it's really sunk in yet.

"For the past 15 months I been living in Haverhill I've been travelling down every Sunday for matches and I've only missed one meeting.

"I seem to end up doing a lot of extra jobs ­ I've been the minutes secretary, fixtures secretary, results secretary, league team manager and publicity secretary."

Mr Webb, a telecommunications engineer, lives with his wife and two children.

CAPTION: Dedicated ... Richard Webb has received his national reward for his displays in the middle.