A dedicated Denbigh based business woman and volunteer has been recognised for her work on the latest Queen's New Years Honours List.

Angeline Lawson was awarded the British Empire Medal in the honours list for her services to children, the judiciary and the community in Denbighshire.

Mrs Lawson said she was extremely humbled and proud by the recognition but had to keep her excitement under wraps having known since November but not able to tell anyone until it was officially revealed on Saturday.

She said: "I was informed by Downing Street at the beginning of November and accepted the award in honour of my brother Graham who passed away two days later.

"I was deeply humbled and very proud to receive the medal. I did share it with my husband and children who were ecstatic but were sworn to secrecy."

Mrs Lawson started as a social worker in the early 1990s specialising in children's services and later mental health and although she retired from the care sector in 2006 to join the family business - Lawson Civil Engineering and Utilities - she has continued advocating for individual mental health needs.

Her involvement with the community didn't stop there, successfully applying to join the judiciary in 2006 and also becoming a magistrate in the community - visiting schools, colleges and special education centres explaining the works of a magistrate throughout North Wales.

The judiciary work continued to expand taking on work with PACT and sitting as a chairperson in both adult and youth court.

Her involvement doesn't stop there also sitting on a number of other community groups within Denbigh.

Mrs Lawson said: "I sit on various groups, but always as part of a team. I would like to stress that this honour is in recognition also of being part of many groups who all volunteer their time and work hard in making our community a better place to live in."

The hard working mother is set to receive her medal at a later date from the Lord Lieutenant in the 2018 and thereafter a visit to Buckingham Palace in the summer.