Entertainer Nicholas Parsons, who appeared at this year's Ledbury Poetry Festival, has been awarded the OBE in the New Year's honours list.

He is one of several people with local connections to appear in the list.

Road safety officer Roger Woodward, formerly of Hereford and Worcester County Council, now with Worcester-shire, has been made an MBE.

Mr Woodward, aged 58, has been honoured for services to local government.

He worked on a campaign to change the law so school crossing patrols can help anyone, not just schoolchildren. The change was made in 2000.

There is an MBE for Margaret Hudson, of Malvern, for her work with the Ministry of Defence.

There is a CBE for tenor Ian Bostridge, who appeared at Malvern Theatres in April.