A NURSE has been royally recognised for 25 years of outstanding service caring for mental health patients.

Julia Gibson-Cranch, 48, of Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, received a national award from the Queen’s Nursing Institute.

She was given the accolade for setting up and working at a London- based service for parents with a personality disorder whose children are at risk of being taken into care.

The service is run by the Anna Freud Centre, a children’s mental health charity.

The award was founded in 1994 and is presented to nurses who have given exceptional service to patients through practice in any aspect of primary health care.

Mum-of-five Julia said: “It’s an honour to have my work recognised, but it’s the families I work with who often have nowhere to turn that I want people to remember.

“I’ve seen some truly tragic stories during my past two decades of work, but I’ve also seen some amazing results when it just didn’t seem possible.

“If anything, I hope this award will focus others on seeing why we need to support families who struggle with personality disorders across the UK not just London.”