THE tireless efforts of East Lancashire’s community champions have been praised in the Queen’s birthday honours list.

A wide range of individuals ranging from volunteers and local councillors to journalists have been celebrated for their services to the community with an Order of British Empire (OBE).

Girl guide leader Christine Barnes was bestowed the honour for her 37 years of volunteering and working with young people..

The 55-year-old said: “It is the most beautiful thing ever.

“The fact someone has recognised my volunteering is amazing. In some shape or form I have been in the girl guides since I was 10-years-old.

“The real honour has been being able to see young people achieve and then exceed their potential.”

Former Lancashire County Council leader Geoff Driver was celebrated for dedicating 50 years to local government.

He said: “I am very proud, delighted and happy to receive such an honour.

“Never did I think when I started out as a officer I would be honoured like this.”

Former Lancashire Telegraph Clarets reporter Matthew Horn had his journalism career and lecturing commitments in China celebrated.

The sports reporter, who now lives in China teaching international Journalism at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies on behalf of the University of Central Lancashire, said: “I feel really delighted and I never thought I would get this in a million years.

“I have always loved journalism and being able to teach future journalists and then see them start their careers in the real world makes it all worthwhile and am really grateful to UCLan and Guangdong University for their support.”

Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue leader Phil O’Brien was also congratulated for his life saving efforts.

He said: “I absolutely do not have the words to describe how it feels.

“I have been a mountain rescue volunteer since 1983 and the missing people searches I have been part of in Lancashire really show the type of work we do.”

Brian Cushing from Clitheroe was honoured for donating his time to the community.

The chairman of various charitable bodies includings Ribble Valley Carers Link and Abbeyfield Society, said: “I was aware that this award must be a great source of pride for people whose work would otherwise go unrecognised so it’s a great honour to receive one myself.”

Special Constable Trevor Spence from Blackburn was also named in the honours.

The 66-year-old, who spent all of his service covering Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, retired in October 2012.

He received many awards, including a Chief Superintendents commendation and a Magistrates Award for arresting a man who was mugging a pensioner in Blackburn.

He said: “I worked as a Special Constable for 43 years and it makes me feel so proud that my services to the people of Lancashire have been rewarded.

“I’ve certainly never received anything like this before, it was completely out of the blue.”

Christine Edwards, UCLan’s safety health and environment manger, was also celebrated for her contribution to education.

Others honoured include team leader of Rossendale’s Community First Responders Brian Pickup, Burnley’s George Martin who works for The Prince’s Trust as a liaison officer, Thomas Burrows, the stage manager of Burnley’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society for more than 60 years, BBC Sport Chief Engineer Richard Morgan from Rossendale for his coverage of the London 2012 Olympic, former chief executive of Regenerate Pennine Lancashire Max Steinberg and Rossendale Coun Dorothy Farrington was also awarded a British Empire Medal for her community work in Goodshaw.

· SKYFALL singer Adele, aged just 25, added another award to her fast-growing collection as she received an MBE in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours for services to music.

Tony Robinson, famed for his role as long-suffering Baldrick in the Blackadder series, also trumped co-star Rowan Atkinson with a knighthood for public and political service.

Atkinson, who starred in last year's Olympics opening ceremony, got a CBE for services to drama and charity.

MBEs also went to singer and broadcaster Aled Jones and singer-songwriter PJ Harvey, as well as comedian Rob Brydon; actor, director and playwright David Haig; and Chocolat author Joanne Harris.

Sports presenter Clare Balding, widely praised for her coverage of London's Olympic and Paralympic Games, got an OBE for services to broadcasting and journalism and golfer Paul Lawrie also received the award.

An OBE was also given to Wendy Parry, whose 12-year-old son Tim was killed in the Warrington bomb on March 20, 1993.

Entrepreneur and former Dragon's Den star Hilary Devey got a CBE for services to the transport industry and to charity, with a CBE also going to cinematographer Roger Deakins, best-known for his work on the films of the Coen brothers and Sam Mendes, including Skyfall.

In total, 1,180 received awards.