A WEST Dorset community champion has been awarded with a British Empire Medal for five decades of dedication to her village.

Sally Parker, 71, was recognised in the Queen's New Year's Honours List with a British Empire Medal and received her award from Angus Campbell, Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, at County Hall last week.

Sally has known since November but none of her family - her partner, two sons, three daughters and 15 grandchildren - knew anything about it until New Year's Day.

She said: "I got a letter back in November and I was told to keep it confidential. I never breathed a word, not even to my family.

"They thought it was absolutely fantastic. They put up lovely messages on Facebook - there were more than 200 congratulation messages I got through that."

Sally was nominated for the award by her friend Ann Hunt and was put forward for her work in Shipton Gorge, where she has lived for 50 years, as well as her effort in the Bridport area.

Sally said: "Ann nominated me along with a couple of other people who wrote nice things. It was to do with the work I do in the village.

"I am a director on the NISL (New Inn Support Ltd). I am on the committee for the village hall where we raise money, I am on the village society, again where we do things to get village people together and I am the chairman of the Bridport Crime Prevention Panel and I do Homewatch here for Shipton Gorge as well."

She added: "I enjoy every minute of it. I think village life is worth preserving. Like the pub, we thought we were going to lose it, we got together and we kept it open and the village hall you need funding to keep these things going for the young ones.

"I do the fete and the village show, we do a race night and quizzes, just get involved there are other people who help as well. It is a lovely village to live in and it's no hardship to do it."

Ann said: "Shipton Gorge would not be the same village it is today without the efforts of Sally Parker."