A WHOLE host of individuals from across the Asian community were honoured in the New Year’s Honour’ List.

Actress and writer Meera Syal was honoured with a CBE for her services to drama and literature.

The 53-year-old is familiar to TV audiences for her comedy roles in Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No.42, but has also found a receptive audience for her books about the experiences of British Asians.

Syal graduated in drama and English from Manchester University and found acting roles during the 1980s in TV series such as The Diary of Adrian Mole and the film Sammy And Rosie Get Laid, as well as presenting the magazine show Sunday East for the British Asian community.

But it was in the following decade that her career took off, scripting the film Bhaji On the Beach and starring in the radio series Goodness Gracious Me, which later transferred to TV, and in turn The Kumars.

Her writing abilities have been given further vent scripting the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Bombay Dreams.

James Caan, the former Dragons’ Den investor has also received a CBE in the New Years Honours list.

Pakistan-born Mr Caan, who changed his name from Nazim Khan as a teenager, left school at the age of 16 with no qualifications but his business empire is now said to be worth £70 million.

He built up two companies, Alexander Mann and Humana International, which he sold before founding private equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw.

He receives his award for services to entrepreneurship and charitable services through the James Caan Foundation.

Fauja Singh, the 103 year-old marathon Runner received an BEM for services to sport and charity.

His current personal best time for the London Marathon (2003) is 6 hours 2 minutes, and his marathon record, for age 90-plus, is 5 hours 40 minutes at the age of 92, at the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

In the north of England Adeeba Malik, deputy chief executive of QED Foundation, Bradford was awarded a CBE for her services as a British Muslim woman on mainstream public bodies.

She said: “I am humbled and honoured to receive such a prestigious award and to be recognised for my work which I have always enjoyed. I remember how I felt when I received the MBE, and then to be honoured with a CBE is very special.

“There are many others who will be part of this including my family, friends and colleagues who have supported me in my career. And the person who this will mean a lot to is my mother, this is why the award is so special.”

Other notable awards in the region went to Gulfaraz Ahmed. Headteacher Parkinson Lane Primary School, Halifax who recieved an a OBE for services to Education. (Huddersfield, West Yorkshire).

Ms Shabana Iltaf Abasi. Head of Service Cafcass Greater Manchester was awarded an MBE for services to Children in Greater Manchester. (Cheadle, Greater Manchester).