CHARITY champion Caz Steffens has paid tribute to the Queen following her death at the age of 96.

Caz, who founded the Snooky Trust charity in Dawlish, was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2018.

Following the announcement of the Queen’s death, Caz said: ‘To the amazing Queen of England who saw another woman working hard to help others just like she has for her whole life.

‘I will sincerely hold our brief wonderful meetings dear to my heart.

‘Your recognition of another’s hard work, the kindness you showed and the memory of your smile and kind eyes will stay with me forever thank you for being you.’

Caz founded the charity in 2007 in memory of here brother Chris to help young people with illnesses.

Her work in founding the charity and the Snooky Trust shop in Queen Street, also led to her being included in the 2014 Independent Happy List.

On the announcement of her award, Caz said she was ‘emotional, overwhelmed and grateful’ to find she had been included in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for 2018.

She said she was ‘sincerely humbled’.