A mid Wales charity supporting people addicted to drugs has scooped a UK award for its work.

Cyswllt Ceredigion Contact helps people with a range of addictions and disorders, as well as family and friends affected by them.

Director Maureen Fyffe said beating nine other finalists to the England and Wales National Drug Team of the Year prize was "a dream come true".

The Home Office described its work as "above and beyond the call of duty".

Founded in 1992, Cyswllt Ceredigion Contact has a clinical team of six.

Counsellors and peers listened, supported and encouraged me   Alcoholic helped by group

The group won £10,000 prize money and may use it to help fund a new treatment centre, which it plans to open in Cardigan soon.

One former addict from Aberystwyth who benefited from its work said the team gave him the kick-start he needed to start his recovery.

"I drank nightly until I was so drunk I blacked out," he said.

"By the time I referred myself to Contact for treatment my life revolved around alcohol. I was losing friendships and my attendance at work was decreasing.

"By using different techniques, ie group therapy, one-to-one counselling, informative videos and lectures, it helped me become aware and learn how alcohol had affected me physically, emotionally, my life and others.

"Counsellors and peers listened, supported and encouraged me to look at myself and my life."

My son and daughter-in-law are just fine until alcohol walks through the door and sanity walks out   Alcoholic's mother-in-law

Family members are also helped, such as one woman from Cardigan whose daughter-in-law is an alcoholic.

"My son and daughter-in-law are just fine until alcohol walks through the door and sanity walks out," she said.

"I worried so much about my grandchildren. In fact, I worried about everyone involved but I forgot about one person - me.

"I became very depressed but anti-depressant pills just helped me to numb the pain.

"The family programme and one-to-one counselling have given me the knowledge and support to live my life again."

She said she owed her counsellors so much and described it as "a debt that can never be repaid".

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker, who presented the award to the group, said: "Both winners show a standard of commitment and dedication that consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty to support both individuals and their communities."