A Falmouth equine dental technician has won a prestigious award from her professional body for her charitable work with horses.

Lucy Evans, 25, was secretly nominated for her voluntary work with the Flicka Foundation Horse and Donkey Sanctuary at Mabe.

She launched her own business, Equine Dental Solutions, four years ago after being inspired by the work of a horse dentist at the sanctuary in 2009, where she had already been serving as a volunteer.

The British Association of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT) makes two members’ awards every year and Lucy, who continues to help the sanctuary on a regular basis, was one of the 2017 winners. The award, a perpetual, engraved silver salver, was for “going beyond the expected level of service to help an equine/equines.”

The nomination, from another qualified member, praised Lucy for “putting the welfare of horses at the forefront of her work and her business.”

Lucy, a former pupil of Truro School, said: “It was a big surprise and very humbling just to have been nominated for this wonderful award, let alone win it, as I have only been a full member for one year. I am very grateful to the person or people concerned for their kindness in nominating me.”

She received her award from Claire Johnson, chairman, at the BAEDT’s annual meeting at Hartpury College, Gloucester. The body has 130 members.