WIRRAL residents have been praised for their hard work as the Queen's New Year's Honours List is revealed

Historian Tracey Fisher from Eastham has been appointed an MBE  for services to young people through the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

She said the honour is recognition for the whole team who help run the youth service in Wirral.

"This is for all the people who have helped to organise the awards and expeditions," said the 46-year-old.

Retired police officer Joseph Peter Roper was appointed an MBE for services to education and to the community in Birkenhead.

Mr Roper, who retired from the police force in 1992, has been a school governor at four schools and runs Cavendish community in Birkenhead where he organises everything from catering to hair and beauty pampering.

Christine Ann Allen. chief executive of Forum Housing Association has been given a British Empire Medal for services to the community in Merseyside.

She said: “Working with thousands of homeless young people over the past 30 years has been a privilege and a pleasure” 

And Ivy Winifred Gardiner has been honoured with an MBE for services to young People and to the community on the borough.

Bernard Peter Hollywood has been recognised with an OBE for charitable work.

Nationally, Bradley Wiggins who made sporting history by winning the Tour de France and Olympic gold this year, is knighted.

Sir Bradley heads a sparkling list of sporting heroes, including sailor Ben Ainslie, who gets a knighthood, para-cyclist Sarah Storey, who is made a dame, and Jess Ennis, Victoria Pendleton, Mo Farah and David Weir, who all get CBEs.

Olympic medallist-turned-Strictly Come Dancing champion Louis Smith described his MBE as "without a doubt the proudest moment of my life".

The Peterborough gymnast was a member of Britain's surprise bronze medal success in the men's team competition at the London 2012 Olympics.

He also won silver on the pommel horse with one of the hardest routines in the world.

"To receive this honour is out of this world and something I never would have dreamt of as I grew up in the sport of gymnastics," said Smith, 23.

Kate Bush, one of the most distinctive singers and songwriters of her generation, said it was a "great surprise" to be awarded a CBE for her services to music.

The 54-year-old, whose first hit Wuthering Heights topped the charts and instantly made her a star, was as famous for her videos and her often wild-eyed mime dancing as her singular voice.

More later.