Hitchin’s Rhythms of the World festival has been hailed for its innovative approach in the Creative Hertfordshire Flame Awards, which celebrate the county’s creative talent.

Regular volunteer Clare Sulch, who picked up the award on behalf of the RotW team, said: “It’s a great honour to receive the award. It recognises the many volunteers and the creative spirit of Rhytyms of the World.

“About 800 people volunteer for the charity, helping in a range of tasks, including building and rigging the festival, on the ticket gate, selling merchandise, creating artwork to decorate the site, co-ordinating our artists in residence, welcoming artists, stewarding, organising parking, providing better disabled access and organising music sessions for older people and dementia care settings.”

The award celebrates not only work done over the festival weekend in July but also the RotW outreach programme, which helps bring music to the whole community.

Clare added: “What makes Rhythms so special for me is the collective effort to produce a festival which showcases music from around the world and around the corner.

“It makes for a wonderful atmosphere where home-grown talent can flourish on a billing with internationally-acclaimed artists.

“We all feel part of something bigger, and each have a role in the organisation’s continuing success. Here’s to Rhythms Of The World 2015.”

Find out how you can get involved in the 2015 event at www.rotw.org.uk.