TWO women from Wirral have been recognised in the 2019 New Year Honours list.

Former barrister and celebrity chef Nisha Katona has been honoured for her services to the food industry.

After founding Mowgli, an Indian street food chain in 2014, Nisha has since gone on to release three books and makes regular appearances on television and radio.

Through Mowgli Nisha has been able to donate more than £100,000 to charities, including Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, each year.

On social media, she said: "It’s beyond belief - our little Liverpool start up and a simple Dahl - I feel like God has just patted me on my back while I stare into my pans."

Also among those receiving an MBE is retired Wallasey architect, Joy Hockey, for services to Wallasey.

Born and bred in Wallasey, educated at Wallasey Oldershaw and Liverpool University, Joy follows in the footsteps of late husband, river pilot, Phil Hockey, who received his MBE for his services to the River Mersey and RNLI.

Seventy years of professional and voluntary work enabled Joy to acquire an encyclopaedic knowledge of Wirral, Liverpool, and above all, her beloved Wallasey where she has unceasingly served on all the major and influential architectural and conservation committees, societies and residence organisations.

An inspirational woman, still a role model in her 90s, it has been said of Joy that: "whereas, many volunteer and serve, Joy brings a special quality, the ability to influence, inspire and lead in the most modest style.

"Her constructive approach to necessary change has meant that modernisation and development are, and have been, achieved in an inclusive manner.

"This has encouraged consultation with residents, commerce and religious leaders to ensure an equitable balance of ancient and modern, and public and private interests, in town planning, architecture and the environment.

"Her positive approach engenders cooperation ... no one is ever turned away."

Joy played the pivotal role in the listing of key buildings throughout Wallasey.

Joy was the driving force behind the creation of New Brighton's Wellington Road Conservation Area, which in 1971, was only the second to be formed in Wirral.

Her participation in the 1980s ensured Wallasey's coastal promenades remained in local authority ownership as free open ground for healthy outdoor recreation.

In the intervening years up to 2008, she engaged so that local groups put up unified proposals which safeguarded the correct scale and type of regeneration in New Brighton; a project which has received plaudits from all sides.

Nearly 93, she still takes the lead in reviewing planning applications and provides active liaison within all the conservation groups throughout the borough.