A LOVER resident has been honoured by the Prime Minister for improving his village’s future by reviving its romantic reputation.

Nick Gibbs has been helping the village with the Lover Post to support the renovation of a community centre.

He is the latest recipient of a Point of Light award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers who are making a change in their community and inspiring others.

Nick said: “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the village of Lover. We hope to demonstrate that rural communities can thrive in the 21st century with innovative and creative schemes which empower and unite people.”

In past years the village traditionally saw thousands of Valentine's Day cards sent via its postal service from those seeking a special Lover postmark.

After raising more than £85,000 in just eight weeks to buy the empty old village school, Nick and his team of volunteers at the Lover Community Trust have embarked upon a new mission to fundraise an extra pot of cash to complete its refurbishment and provide a regular income stream for the community for generations to come.

They have sold 8,000 specially crafted Lover Valentine’s Day cards, resurrecting Lover's famous postmark, which are being dispatched across the world.

In a personal letter to Nick, Prime Minister Theresa May, said: “The inventive way in which you are raising funds to create a community space for the people of Lover is engaging the whole community and spreading joy across the world.”

Nick is the 681st winner of the Points of Light award.