THE founder of a Southampton charity reaching out to leprosy victims in India has celebrated collecting a top honour from Royalty.

Jill Ghanouni is one of the founding trustees of the New Hope Rural Leprosy Trust working to support sufferers and families of those diagnosed with the devastating disease.

Now she has been presented an MBE from the Duke of Cambridge Prince William after being named in the Queen's New Year's Honours list for her work in voluntary services to the community in rural India.

Mrs Ghanouni received the award at yesterday's (Thursday) [May 21] ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The mum-of-two from Southampton was touched by victims' plight after visiting leper colonies the South Asian country in 1982 aged just 22.

The disease is now curable with on-going drug therapy but many people, especially in the poor, rural areas leave it too late to receive treatment while fear and ignorance means many people are ostracised by society.

She also reaches out to youngsters orphaned by the illness and runs other health, education and vaccination projects.

Jill, 55, said after the ceremony: "It was a great honour and when I told the Prince about the work we do to help people in India he smiled and said I was an inspiration to us all."