A HEREFORDSHIRE woman has been nominated for an honour in the Queen's latest birthday honours list.

Prudence Margaret Burch, also known as Vidyamala Burch, from Ledbury, has been awarded an OBE for services to wellbeing and pain management.

She co-founded Breathworks CIC in 2004 and is now recognised as an international leader in mindfulness-based pain management.

Breathworks helps people living with pain, illness and stress to manage their lives.

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The idea for the company was born after she began to explore mindfulness and meditation in her twenties following multiple surgeries for a spinal injury sustained in her youth.

Her evidence-based approach has reached more than 100,000 people around the world and is recognised by the NHS and health boards globally.

Mrs Burch said: "I was absolutely stunned and completely humbled to receive the letter, keeping the news to myself for nearly two months was incredibly difficult.

"The only tinge of sadness was with both of my parents passing away recently that they couldn’t be around to see it.

"They would’ve been so proud."

Mrs Burch said that the honour is a tribute to the hard work of everyone involved in the Breathworks project.

"This has only been possible through the fantastic work of everyone involved in the project and this honour is also for them."

Mrs Burch also paid tribute to everyone she has met through her work.

She said: "I've met some amazing people over the years, lots of them dealing with terrible pain.

"Starting Breathworks in 2004 was theraputic for me and helped me through some dark times with my own injuries.

"Through my work, I hope to continue to pass on the tools that have helped me to reclaim a full, happy and meaningful life.