THE man a Mid Wales community has turned to in times of need for more than 30 years has received the ultimate thanks, an MBE.

Presteigne's Eddie Taylor is a town councillor, a president of the town's Chamber of Trade, a member of the Wentes Meadow Action Committee, the Presteigne and Norton Community Trust and a warden of St Andrew's Church.

Former town mayor, Councillor John Wilding, says nobody in Presteigne deserves the award more.

"He has worked tirelessly for Presteigne without any recompense for years. He has been an unstinting worker for the church and town council and for Presteigne for generations," said Mr Wilding.

He has been a town councillor for more than 30 years, and a chairman too, and was the owner of a successful agricultural machinery business in the town for 50 years. He now works with his son Edwin at WJ Taylor and Sons.

Mr Taylor's daughter-in-law, Sue, said: "He's on the council, the church committee and Chamber of Trade. If there's any disaster, people say phone Eddie Taylor, that's why he got put forward for the award really."