It is mere months since children were posting their pocket money through the letterbox to support a treasured museum in Sheffield.

Now the National Emergency Services Museum (NESM) has won a major award to be named the whole country's most family friendly.

The small museum is independent, and self-funded, dedicated to celebrating the heroic history of the nation's emergency services.

To families the museum made "history come alive", while judges recognised "outstanding" community work, hands-on galleries and a welcoming staff.

The museum has been named the country's most family friendly

Helen Shepherd is part of the team. Members had travelled to London on Wednesday in the hope of being crowned best small museum - which they were. There were stunned gasps from all, she added, when they were also named overall winner.

Ms Shepherd said: "We're just so proud. We're absolutely delighted, it's a massive achievement for a small museum like us - and for Sheffield and Yorkshire.

"It means so much - we're such a small team and we put our absolute heart and soul into this museum to make it the best we can."

Emergency services museum in Sheffield crowned the UK's most family friendly - just in time for half term