HAY Festival organisers have been recognised by the Queen as part of the New Year’s Honours list.

The festival which is renowned world-wide celebrated its 30th birthday this year.

 Co-founder Peter Kenrick Florence will receive a CBE for his services to literature and charity, while former chairman Revel Sarah Guest Albert will receive an OBE for services to literature.

"I heard about a month ago and I was absolutely gobsmacked when I opened the letter which came through in an envelope like those from Customs and Revenue,” said Mr Florence.

"The award is absolutely down to all my colleagues and all the people who come and make the festival. It's a huge collaborative effort and not one man's anything. It's our 30th year this year so this feels like a real final treat on the anniversary.

"It’s a great tribute to all my brilliant colleagues at the festival, to all the writers and readers who come to share stories, and to the people of Hay who welcome the world to our wonderful town throughout the year.

"I was one of a small group who founded the event with the goal of just to have fun for the weekend and it turned out better and more exciting than we expected. It's amazing that people know Hay-on-Wye through the book shops and through the festival.

"The whole idea of the award is magical and delightful."

Mrs Guest said she was 'honoured and delighted' to receive the honour from the Queen after stepping down from her role as festival chairman after 20 years earlier this year.

Also set to receive an OBE is Edward Mortimer Harley, from Bucknell, for his services to heritage.

Wendy Coombey, from Leominster, has been recognised for services to churches in Herefordshire with a MBE.

Mrs Coombey is the community partnership and funding officer for Hereford Diocese.

She said: "I am moved that my friends and colleagues have put me forward to receive this award.

"To be recognised by them means so much, but I couldn’t do my work in isolation, so I see this as recognition for all the volunteers, the communities across Herefordshire and South Shropshire, all the PCC’s and Christian communities that work so hard to look after their Church buildings, or serve the people in their villages and towns across the Diocese.

"This MBE is recognition of all their hard work and dedication, and I will always be grateful that I have had the opportunity to work with them over the past 16 years."

British Empire Medals have been awarded to: Bryan Stanley Jones for services to education and young people in Herefordshire; Diana Stella Murdie, from Colwall, for services to sport for visually impaired people; and Gillian Doreen Worthing for services to first aid and young people in Herefordshire.

Miss Worthing is manager of Holy Trinity Cadet Unit in Hereford.