West Kingsdown’s Lizzy Yarnold has become an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The 25-year-old Winter Olympic Champion said her “hands were shaking” when she opened the envelope from Buckingham Palace.

The skeleton gold medallist added: "It's been hard to keep it a secret, especially from my parents.

"Getting an MBE feels so different to the awards you achieve as an athlete because those are the ones you have been working towards day after day in training.

"So many fantastic athletes from the summer Olympics have been awarded the MBE and to think winter sports are regarded with the same level of importance I think is a massive step forward."