A folklore expert is to be commended for his work with a top national award.

Roy Palmer, chairman of the Friends of the Dymock Poets, will receive the gold badge, the British Folk, Dance and Song Society's highest honour, for his work on folklore.

He has been a member of the BFDSS for 30 years, on the editorial board of Folk Music Journal for 20 years and has written a number of books on the subject, including editing the Oxford Book of British Ballards.

Mr Palmer said: "I was very pleased. Some of the previous recipients are very distinguished people. It's the highest honour, so I was thrilled to be offered it."

The award is to be presented at the Cheltenham Folk Festival, at which Mr Palmer is a frequent lecturer, on February 7.

Mr Palmer has just completed a book on the folklore of Shropshire, to be published in April, and is in the middle of working on another book about Worcestershire folklore.

He lived for many years in Dymock, but now lives in Malvern.