Two organisations - the Friends of the Community of Haverfordwest and the Pembrokeshire Bike Riders - are set to receive Haverfordwest Town Council's Award of Merit.

The award is the highest honour which can be bestowed by the council and recognises work done by a group or individual within the community. The Friends of the Community were nominated by Cllrs Barbara Morgan and Roy Thomas.

The organisation was formed in 1994 when retiring community nurses wondered what they could do about waiting lists for non medical equipment for people with long term illnesses in their own homes. Items such as commodes, pressure relief cushions, heel protectors, bath hoists and boards, bedside cradles, back rests and cot sides were among items needed.

The service has been very successful and greatly valued. Over the last 12 years the Friends have raised £80,000, enough to purchase eight special beds and mattresses for terminally ill people at a cost of more than £4,500 each, as well as many other items.

The Friends, a committee of about 12 people, now work with community nurses to ensure the needs of local people are met.

The Pembrokeshire Bike Riders, nominated by Cllrs Charles Davies and Alun Buckfield, was set up in 2002 by several young men, mostly from Haverfordwest, who were interested in cycling for pleasure and as a means of keeping fit.

At the same time they have raised money for local charities.

The first event raised £900 for Shalom Trust. The following year, they raised £1,600 for the MS Hope Centre while in 2004, £6,000 was raised for SNAP (the Special Needs Unit at Withybush Hospital).

Last year they achieved £13,000 for ward ten, Withybush Hospital.

This year the money raised will be donated to the Bucketful of Hope Appeal, Mental Health Pembrokeshire and under privileged children in Pembrokeshire.