HIGH-flying residents from Essex have been honoured by the Queen.

In this year's honours list Chelmsford's Stephen Rodford, a senior manager at Whitemoor Prison, Camrbidgeshire, has been recognised with an OBE.

Philip Lane, of Leigh-on-Sea, chief executive of Paralympics GB, will become an OBE for services to sport.

James Juffs, chief operating officer in the debt management office at HM Treasury received the higher accolade of CBE for public and voluntary service.

And Michael William Norgrove, of Coggeshall, director of excise, stamps and money business at HM Revenue and Customs received the same honour.

Professor Thomas Acton, of Brentwood, professor of Romani Studies at the University of Greenwich and Professor Deborah Ashby, from Essex, professor of Medical Statistics and Clinical Trials at Imperial College, London were both given OBE's.

Neil McKay, chief executive of the East of England Strategic Health Authority was made a Knights Bachelor for his services to the NHS.

The honour of MBE was bestowed upon Barry James Donovan, for voluntary service to the community in Colchester and Shirley Gowland, TD, for services to disabled people in Billericay.

Chris Guille, of Tilbury, was recognised for voluntary service to disabled people in Essex and Steven Hayward, of Basildon for services to the defence industry.

Avril O'Sullivan, of Frinton-on-Sea, received hers for voluntary service to people with learning disabilities in Essex.

And Clifford Wallace, of Rochford, for voluntary service to older people.