Two stalwarts of the Chippenham community met the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street this week.

Elizabeth Sexton has dedicated herself to fundraising for Friends of Chippenham Hospital for more than 30 years and raised money for a new X-ray machine and a second birthing pool.

She is now trying to provide a sensory garden for dementia patients.

Lisa Lewis developed the Doorway charity into a supportive and non-judgmental environment, helping to empower homeless and marginalised people.

Both were nominated as charity champions by the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate, Michelle Donelan, who took them to be thanked by David Cameron.

Ms Donelan, who hopes to be elected as Chippenham’s MP this year, said: “I selected two organisations that I have been involved with and two people who I have seen beaver away in the background, working tirelessly to help others.

“Wiltshire has such a fantastic community spirit and it is crucial that we preserve this and encourage it as more houses are built and new people move into the area.

“Often in Wiltshire, homelessness and poverty is overlooked, given that statistically it is low compared with the national averages.

“This means the job Lisa has to do is made twice as hard and needs to be recognised and her efforts helped.”

Mrs Lewis said: “It’s quite embarrassing, because I’m not a champion. I am grateful, but it’s not all about me. I am just the front person, the gobby one, but there are 54 other people working with me.

“It is ironic as well, because all the work that we do at Doorway is picking up the pieces as a consequence of the welfare reforms.”

She said she had found it humbling to be at No 10.

“Take away the politics and there’s so much history there, all the decisions that have taken place, all the photos of the past prime ministers on the wall,” she said.

She was particularly excited to see the staircase Hugh Grant went up and down in Love Actually.

“I wanted to recreate it, but there were too many official looking people around.”

Miss Sexton said: “The Friends fought very hard to keep the community hospital when the PCT was going to close it. People still have that in their minds and still worry about it closing.

“When David Cameron said recently he approved of community hospitals, it was a great relief. ”