WORLD champion gymnast Beth Tweddle has been honoured with an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List.

The two-times champion, formerly of the Queen’s School, is regarded as the greatest gymnast Britain has ever produced after earning the nation’s first ever world title in 2006 before repeating the feat last year.

Tweddle shares the honours list with Jenson Button, a fellow world champion in a very different sport, Formula One, who also receives an MBE.

Despite knowing of the award for six weeks, the attention the announcement has generated has stunned 24-year-old Tweddle.

“I forgot about it because you are not allowed to tell anyone,” she said. “Getting on with training and Christmas it just slipped my mind until I started getting calls from the media last week.

“My housemate has been great, fielding my calls while I’ve been training and acting like my PA but she understands and she’s really pleased for me.

The letter informing Tweddle of her honour was posted to the Bunbury home of her parents Ann and Jerry.

“When my mum saw the Royal stamp she really wanted to open it but my dad said she should leave it.

“She did open it though and she was so excited. I get to take a guest to Buckingham Palace to collect the MBE and I don’t think I’ll have much choice in who I take.

“She’s asked me if I’ll be changing my mail address to ‘Beth Tweddle MBE’, I think it can wait a few months but I’m sure eventually I will.”

Tweddle is now preparing for April’s European Championships.

“I had New Year’s Day off but other than that I am training through,” she said.

Tweddle still has half-an-eye on the possibility of competing in the London Olympics in 2012 but it is her continuing ability to challenge and beat the best gymnasts in the world which will ultimately dictate when she retires from the sport.

Elsewhere womenswear and accessories designer Amanda Jane Wakeley, who grew up in Chester but now lives in London, received an OBE for services to the fashion industry.

Ms Wakeley, 47, a favourite of Halle Berry, Queen Rania of Jordan and Scarlett Johansson, moved to Mickle Lodge in Mickle Trafford, Chester, in 1963 with her parents when she was aged one.

It was her family home for 40 years. Her father Sir John Wakeley was a consultant surgeon in Chester and her mother June was a physiotherapist.

Helen Elizabeth Morris from Parkgate, who has worked for Merseyside Crown Prosecution Service for over 20 years, has been awarded an MBE.

The 55-year-old, who was the prosecutor in the high-profile Rhys Jones murder trial, said she was ‘overwhelmed’ by the news.

She is currently undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in October last year, but hopes the treatment will be completed before she’s due to collect her honour.

Brian Fleet MBE, senior vice president of Airbus, and manager of the Broughton plant, receives a CBE for services to the aerospace industry.

Cheshire Chief Constable David Whatton receives the Queen’s Police Medal. Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire, William Arthur Bromley-Davenport, is the recipient of a Royal Victorian Order.

Chester resident Mrs Susan Jean Willan, formerly a member of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales, receives an OBE for services to education.

Receiving an MBE is Frodsham resident Lady Alice Kirsty Pilkington for voluntary service to Willowbrook Hospice, St. Helens and Knowsley, Merseyside.

Bretton resident Professor Maureen Wayman, formerly Pro-vice-Chancellor and Dean, Art and Design, Manchester Metropolitan University, receives an OBE for services to local and national higher education.