Two woman from the North East have been invited to the coronation of King Charles III.
More than 850 community and charity representatives from across the UK have been asked to attend the service at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday, May 6.
Two of those who have been invited are Mahtab Morovat, 42, from Seaham, and Kim Sheers, 54, from Houghton-le-Spring. Both women were awarded British Empire Medals last year for their service to the local community.
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Mahtab manages a charity called 'Fightback', which is based in Sunderland, which has helped hundreds of people. She joined the organisation as a volunteer in 2007 and worked her way up to become the part-time manager.
The charity helps people who experience multiple disadvantages arising out of their particular social, cultural, physical/mental health or economic circumstances. They provide them with a range of practical, social and educational services.
She said: "I'm so excited, it's a huge honour. I was shocked to receive the invitation, I screamed! It's a great privilege to be invited. I'm looking forward to being there and seeing such a historic moment.
Mahtab said she previously met King Charles at the garden party at Buckingham Palace, prior to the Queen passing away. She was invited to the event in May last year after being honoured with a British Empire Medal.
She said: "I went to the garden party last year and met King Charles, I was so lucky to speak to him. I'm a big fan of the Royal Family. When the Queen died I felt so sad, I was sitting in front of the TV watching her funeral. It was so sad. I'm looking forward to being there and seeing the coronation."
Mahtab runs Fightback with the support of volunteers. The charity runs a drop in service as well as a foodbank, which hands out more than 100 parcels each week.
She became inspired to help others by her late mother. Mahtab, who also teaches business, said: "It was team work, it wasn't just me. I'm grateful to be part of that time. Hopefully I have made my mum proud."
Kim began running Lumley Boccia and Social Group after noticing that there was no services available in the local area for her children, who are both autistic, once they were over the age of 16. She runs the group every Wednesday at Great Lumley Methodist Church and has around 40 members.
Kim, who has now run the group for 10 years, said: "It's just an absolute honour to actually be invited. I'm looking forward to the service itself. We're going to witness something so historic. I feel very fortunate."
Kim said she has previously met Prince Edward when her daughter got her Gold Duke of Edinburgh award. She met him again, alongside his wife Sophie and Kate Middleton, at the garden party at Buckingham Palace last year.
Of the 850 invitations handed out by the Royal Family, 450 of them are being given to British Empire Medal recipients. This is to honour the contributions made by remarkable volunteers, charity representatives and community champions up and down the country. They will join the Coronation Service congregation in Westminster Abbey.
The other 400 invitations will be given to young people representing charitable organisations, nominated by The King and The Queen Consort and the UK Government. They organisations are The Prince’s Trust, The Prince’s Foundation, Barnardo’s, The National Literacy Trust and Ebony Horse Club.
They will be invited to a special private viewing of the Coronation Service at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey.
Another 200 young people from the Scout Association, Girlguiding UK, St John Ambulance and the National Citizen Service will attend, having been nominated by the UK Government for their contribution to Coronation Day.
The four organisations will provide stewarding, route lining and first aid services across the capital on Coronation Day.
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