Celebrity chef Rick Stein, who runs a restaurant in Padstow, has been given an OBE in the Queen's New Year Honours List.

The TV star has been recognised for services to tourism.

He is one of eight people in Cornwall to be named in the Honours List.

He said that he was delighted to receive the honour.

It was total amazement, I didn't think anything like that would come my way Joan Towle

Mr Stein said: "I have always had an enthusiasm to promote Cornwall as a very nice place and it has been undervalued in the past.

"I'm very pleased that lots more people see in Cornwall what I've always seen, it's a magical place and always will be."

Joan Towle, a magistrate from St Austell has been given an MBE for services to the community.

Nature conservation

She is the UK vice-chairwoman of the bereavement charity Cruse as well as a founder of the Mount Edgcumbe Hospice.

She said it was shock to receive her letter from Downing Street.

"It was total amazement, I didn't think anything like that would come my way.

"It's not for me really, it's for all the volunteers with whom I've worked over the half a lifetime I've been in Cornwall," she said.

Others recognised in the county include James Lovelock, who received the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to global environmental science.

Among those receiving MBEs were John Ede for services to the Citizens Advice Bureau in East Cornwall and Stella Turk for her work in nature conservation.