A lollipop lady from Cardiff who has helped children cross the road safely for three decades has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List.

Margaret Higgins has been assisting pupils who go to nearby primary and secondary schools to cross the busy Merthyr Road in north Cardiff since November 1972.

This has come as such a shock, I can't quite believe it Margaret Higgins

She has been given the honour for services to the community of Birchgrove in Cardiff.

"This has come as such a shock, I can't quite believe it," said Mrs Higgins who lives in the Whitchurch area of the city.

"I had a letter a couple of weeks ago telling me that I had been nominated but I didn't think anything more about it.

"Then I got told that I had been lucky enough to get it," she said.

Mrs Higgins began her career as a schools' patrol officer when her own daughter was a child.

"It was only meant to be for a few weeks, I was looking after my daughter and another family member who was ill and thought it would be very handy," she said.

I utterly enjoy the work and I have even got used to the bad weather conditions I have to stand in sometimes Margaret Higgins

"After a while I was offered my old office job back, but I didn't want it because I was having such a great time in my new job.

"I utterly enjoy the work and I have even got used to the bad weather conditions I have to stand in sometimes.

"Being in the job as long as I have, I've seen a lot of the youngsters grow up and now I am even helping some of their children across the road.

"I have got such a nice gang of kids at the moment.

"There is the smaller ones who go to the primary school and the older ones who go to the high schools."

Mrs Higgins said that her husband Gordon was thrilled with the award.

Mrs Higgins wants to carry on her job as long as possible

"We are both chuffed to bits," she said.

"I have no idea who put my name forward, it is a complete mystery.

"Very often some of the parents tell me that I deserve a medal for the job I do, so maybe that is a clue.

"All I know is that I want to carry on doing the job I love for as long as I can," she added.