A WELFARE worker from Kidderminster who helps homeless people has collected his MBE award from the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Nigel Preece, higher executive officer for operations at the Department for Work and Pensions, received the medal for services to welfare and voluntary service to the homeless.

He was recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list earlier this year and travelled to London on Thursday, November 28, to be presented with the award by Her Majesty.

Mr Preece, 56, who live in Kidderminster and works at the Sparkhill Job Centre in Birmingham, told The Shuttle: "It was an incredible experience and one I do not think will ever be repeated.

"The most remarkable thing about the day is when you are awarded [the medal] by the Queen, when she speaks to you it is like you are the only person there, she is giving you her full and undivided attention."

He told the Queen about his job centre work in the deprived area of Birmingham and said during the past three years the service had got more people into employment and into treatment for drug and alcohol problems than any other UK centre.

His mother Barbara, 85, daughter Charlotte, 19 and partner Olivia accompanied him to Buckingham Palace.

Mr Preece said: "They were hugely proud, my mother in particular was particularly proud but there was a hint of sadness in that my father who died 23 years ago did not live to see the day. I would have loved him to have been there to witness this."

The Kidderminster Operatic and Dramatic Society member added his work colleagues were also pleased with the award and the recognition for front line service staff who "strive to do our best".

Kidderminster duo Isobel Dale and Jennifer Jester also received Queen's Birthday honours and were presented with their British Empire Medals for services to hospice care and services to Wyre Forest Citizens’ Advice Bureau respectively in Worcester last month.

They are due to go to Buckingham Palace next May.