THE tireless team behind one of Paisley’s premier tourist attractions has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The accolade was acknowledged at a presentation at the famous Sma’ Shot Cottages by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, Guy Clark.

The attraction showcases the town’s historic association with the textile industry, with fully-restored and furnished 18th century weavers cottages, a tearoom, artifacts of local interest and a row of mill workers houses from the 1840s.

The Sma’ Shot Cottage is a typical weaver’s cottage and is one of the only two remaining in Paisley

The Old Paisley Society told the Paisley People: “It is a great honour to the volunteers of the Old Paisley Society, Sma’ Shot Cottages that we are proud recipients of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, 2017.

“The hard work each and every one of our volunteers puts in to preserving Paisley’s weaving heritage, and passing on this knowledge to our visitors, local, national and international, is recognised in receiving this prestigious award.

“We thank them all for their dedication in all areas; be it guiding, helping in the tearoom and shop, maintenance, keeping the books in order, and especially for coming week after week, rain or shine, always with a smile and a laugh; for keeping Paisley’s weaving past alive.

“We are the only link left to Paisley’s heritage apart from the museum and are staffed by volunteers who use their own time.

“It was a great day at the presentation and we all celebrated in the tearooms afterwards.”

Sma’ Shot Cottages recently extended its opening hours to every Friday as well as the usual Wednesday and Saturday from 12 to 4pm.

Find out more about Sma’ Shot Cottages at www.smashotcottages.co.uk.