内容摘要：Matthew Whitehouse, an Afghanistan veteran, received the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service.

Matthew Whitehouse, an Afghanistan veteran, received the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service.

The write-up described "laughter and lively conversation" with members reminiscing "about the good times while planning their future BM escapades".A campaign group has warned the NHS cannot afford to take on extra pressure from widespread cuts to hospices.

Hospice UK, which works to protect and promote the sector, has spoken out after Leicestershire-based Loros became the latest in a string of hospice groups across the UKdue to a funding shortfall.The Department for Health and Social Care has said it is providing an extra £25m to hospices with a further £75m to come.

Hospice UK says the funding is welcome but it is only a start to helping cover the costs of the 310,000 people hospices look after each year, who would have "nowhere else to go" without their services.Charlie King, deputy director of social affairs at Hospice UK, said: "A lot of people probably do not realise just how reliant hospices are on charitable fundraising.

"Most hospices on average get only a third of their funding from the government.

"In a civilised modern society it's not quite right to fund such vital services for people at the end of life with such a heavy reliance on charity.It is hoped that every household around the country will have the kerbside collections by March 2027.

The scheme will be extended to more than 25,000 homes in Wells, Draycott, Frome and Chilcompton.Eligible residents will be sent a pack of blue collection bags, alongside further information about what to collect.

They join about 3,500 households in Frome that have already recycled approximately 27 tonnes of soft plastic waste - equal to roughly 95,000 bags - since the scheme was introduced there in May 2023.Mickey Greene, Executive Director of Climate and Place at Somerset Council, said many residents who are already part of the scheme "really like" it so far.