From selfless volunteers, to services to education, meet the unsung heroes of the Black Country and Staffordshire included in the New Year Honours List

Unsung heroes across the Black Country and Staffordshire are celebrating after been recognised with the prestigious awards.

Long-serving volunteers in Wolverhampton are among those to have been honoured for their work, with Norris Hill, of Coseley, receiving an MBE for his work with the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd Ministry.

Mr Hill has been involved with the group from the very beginning, and was recognised by the organisation about 15 years ago when he was made a Companion of the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd, one of only 30 people internationally to receive the honour.

The 78 year old, who had a heart attack last year and has had to reduce his workload, also volunteers with Active Heart, the cardiac rehabilitation programme.

Mr Hill said he was 'absolutely gobsmacked' by the honour and added: "When I opened a letter from 10 Downing Street to say they had awarded me an MBE for the work I did, I didn't do it for any rewards, it was absolutely out of the blue."

Denise Moreton was given an OBE for her work with the Women's Institute Movement, a group she has been heavily involved with for decades.

Mrs Moreton, a former teacher who is in her early 70s, first joined the Codsall Wood branch of the WI when she married William, a farmer, 50-odd years ago. She is the now the vice-chairwoman of the Staffordshire federation.

Also receiving an OBE is Janene Cox, Staffordshire County Council's commissioner for tourism and the Cultural County in Staffordshire, and former West Brom player Brendon Batson for services to football.

Jatinder Kumar Sharma, the principal of Walsall College - the first general further education college to receive an Outstanding from Ofsted under the new inspection framework - has been awarded the OBE for services to Further Education.

The man who oversees the Office of the Public Guardian, which protects people who may not have the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves, has been given a CBE. Wolverhampton's Alan Eccles, a barrister with three decades' experience, was appointed Chief Executive and Public Guardian in April 2012.

MBEs have been awarded to Gordon Stuart Guild, aged 76, for his voluntary political service; Jean Gough, of Gnosall, the daughter of football legend Stanley Matthews, for her support to the Sir Stanley Matthews Foundation; Old Swinford's Chris Fonteyn, aged 64, for services to the community in Stourbridge, including his work with the RNLI and the National Trust; and Alan James Harvey, of Dudley, for political service.

Waqar Ahmed, from Dudley, was also awarded an MBE for his services to challenging extremism and empowering communities in his role as prevent manager at Birmingham City Council.

His work involves tackling extremism across the spectrum, which includes Muslim extremism and right wing extremism. He is employed by the Home Office to conduct this work.

He said: "I am very humbled to receive this honour which I see as recognition of the collective contribution by all those who work tirelessly every day in trying to make our communities safer in Birmingham and across the West Midlands, often through very difficult and challenging circumstances."

Chris Westwood, 66, has also received an MBE. Mr Westwood set up The Chris Westwood Charity to help children in the Black Country with physical disabilities, after being appalled by the costs racked up by existing charities and the money taken from donations. Since 2003 it has provided more than £250,000 to help underprivileged families purchase mobility equipment.

When Jessica Gripton carried the Olympic torch through West Bromwich in 2012, she said it was one of the highlights of her life. But now the experience could be surpassed as she receives the British Empire Medal for services to sport.

Mrs Gripton, aged 83, is still secretary at Old Hill Tennis Club after more than 30 years of organising matches. She has dedicated her spare hours to encouraging young people to take up the sport and also played a key role in the campaign to rebuild the club's clubhouse after it burnt down in 2000.

An OBE is going to conductor and artistic director of Ex Cathedra, Jeffrey Skidmore. The 63 year old from Lichfield is recognised for services to choral music.

Ex Cathedra is a choir and early music ensemble based in Birmingham.

As an active participant in musical education and a pioneer in researching and performing neglected choral works of the 16th to 18th centuries.

The medal has also been awarded to Patricia Ann Gates, from Stone, for services to policing; Ashley Jayne Hall, a volunteer and fundraiser for Rocklands Special School, Lichfield, for services to education; and John Harvey Deane, for services to the community in Dudley.

Wolverhampton-born actress and writer Meera Syal has also been recognised in the Queen's New Year's Honours, and will become a CBE for services to drama and literature.

Syal used her experiences of growing up in the West Midlands to write her first book Anita And Me, and is also famous for comedy roles on television such as Goodness Gracious Me.

Meanwhile Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy - who grew up in Stafford and worked at Wolverhampton's Central Library - said she was delighted after being made a Dame.

The Glasgow-born writer was the first woman to be appointed in the post's 341-year history.

She previously worked for Wolverhampton City Council as an artist-in-residence in 2000.

She said: "I am delighted that the long tradition of the Laureateship and poetry in general are part of these celebrations.

"We have many wonderful poets in this country and it is a privilege to represent them."

Paul Johnson, originally from Bilston, has also been awarded the British Empire Medal for service to young carers. Mr Johnson is the Chairman of Rotary Clubs of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan Young Carers' Network.

Stuart Griffiths, chief executive of Birmingham Hippodrome, received an OBE for services to the arts in Birmingham.

He said: "I'm delighted with the news and it's a great honour to be recognised in this way.

"It's really a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the whole team here at Birmingham Hippodrome, where we present the best live performances from around the world with our producer partners."

Hillsborough campaigner and former managing director of Perma Systems in Kingswinford, Trevor Hicks, has been appointed CBE.

Mr Hicks campaigned tirelessly for 20 years to secure fresh inquests into the disaster in which he lost his daughters Sarah, aged 19, and Victoria, 15.