Two neighbours and friends who live in the same road in the same village have celebrated being honoured in the New Year’s Honours list.

Alison Cunningham has been awarded the OBE while Sheila Bruce, wife of former Selby GP John Bruce, was honoured with the BEM.

Both live in Garmancarr Lane in Wistow, near Selby. They are heavily involved in the community life of the village, particularly fundraising for the All Saints Church heritage appeal, which has now topped £60,000 towards its £100,000 target.

Alison is group manager for debt management in the Department for Work and Pensions, and in her work oversees 12 sites throughout England, Wales and Scotland, involving 1,500 staff.

She moved to the village with her husband 14 years ago and enjoys the community life and being involved with lots of voluntary work as musical director of the village choir, deputy organist and worship leader at the village church.

Girl Guiding has been a big part of her life for the past 35 years, being a former musical adviser and national council member for north-eastern England. She is now district commissioner for the Selby central area.

Sheila is also involved with community work in the village, being chairman of the parish plan, a government initiative for obtaining views of villagers for projects.

When they were approached for their views there was a 90 per cent response, with some of their requests already being carried out.

For 20 years Sheila served as a magistrate, sitting at both Selby and York courts and has raised money for various local charities over the past 40 years.

She was a former committee member of Save The Children charity in Selby and help set up a similar group in York where she also worked in the charity’s shop.