A SELFLESS volunteer committed to love, peace and unity, has been honoured at a special event for Asian women in Redbridge.

Abida Iqbal received a Redbridge Asian Women's Achievement award in front of 550 people at the annual Education and Training Fair for Asian Women at Ilford Town Hall.

Mrs Iqbal, who came to the UK in the 1970's, volunteered as a play group leader, runs a training centre for disabled women, and founded and chaired the Muslim Disabled Association - now part of the Redbridge Disabled Women's Welfare Association.

She has also volunteered at Redbridge Night Shelter for the homeless, is patron of the Al-Shifa Eye Hospital and has raised thousands of pounds for victims of the Pakistan earthquake and other good causes over the years.

Since the July 7 London bombings, Mrs Iqbal gave her time to organise a campaign for love peace and unity, bringing together local churches, mosques, Gurdwara, Mandir and Synagogues.

The event, which took place last Thursday (July 16), was jointly organised by the University of East London (UEL), and the London Borough of Redbridge, with visitors from all over the borough taking part in activities throughout the day.

The fair was opened by the Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Thomas Chan, who thanked Mrs Iqbal for her outstanding record of voluntary and community service over the past four decades.

Jasbir Panesar, Community Development Co-coordinator at the UEL, has organised the events across east London over the past 14 years.

She said: “It is wonderful to honour Abida and to see how the event has grown over the past decade.

“We are grateful to our partners for again hosting an enjoyable day and a great chance for women from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences and enthusiasm.”