A Westcountry charity dedicated to helping troops returning home from war zones has battled its way into the finals of this year's National Lottery Awards.

Penzance-based Surf Action CIC stormed into the finals beating other UK charities after receiving an avalanche of public votes. The charity will now go up against two other finalists – Sense Scotland and the Altogether Better Programme which works across Yorkshire and Humberside – to take the UK's Best Health Project title.

Surf Action teaches soldiers returning from active service with physical or emotional difficulties, how to master the sport with a view to regaining confidence.

Royal Marine Ben McBean, from Plymouth, who lost an arm and a leg when he stepped on a landmine in Afghanistan, is among those who have taken part in a surf therapy course for armed services amputees with the organisation.

Rich Emerson from Surf Action CIC said: "We are absolutely over the moon to have made the finals.

"It's great to know that we have such fantastic public support for what we're doing, and we'd like to thank everyone who voted for us. I just hope we do them proud in the final.

The awards are supported by TV presenter Julia Bradbury, who said: "It's brilliant to see such an inspiring range of Lottery-funded projects make it through to final ."