A councillor from Chalfont St Peter said she was ‘very surprised’ to receive a New Year’s honour - on the same day that she welcomed a new grandchild into the world.

Cllr Linda Smith a parish and district councillor who has lived in Chalfont St Peter for 40 years and represents the Chalfont Common ward on Chiltern District Council, said she had ‘no idea’ she was due to receive a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2016 honour’s list.

Cllr Smith told the Bucks Free Press how she discovered the letter on her doormat late on November 26 – the day her daughter gave birth to her granddaughter.

She said: “It was a really brilliant day. I was up very early looking after my other grandchildren and I didn’t get home until late that evening, really tired and picked up the post on the mat. I couldn’t believe it.

“It was the culmination of a really good day. I feel very honoured, very lucky and actually very surprised. I did not expect this at all.”

The councillor, who has been a representative for 26 years, has been recognised for services to local government and the community and says she loves her role and the village.

Praising residents’ community spirit, she said: “When I was asked to be a councillor, I saw it as a chance to help protect the town and keep it the way everyone who lives there loves.

“I have met some really love people and made lots of friends and hopefully I have made a difference to people’s lives.

“Our village has lots of volunteers and if something needs doing, someone will volunteer to do it. I think volunteers get as much as out of volunteering as the people who they help. There is a brilliant sense of community spirit here.”