RETAINED firefighter Mick Evans has received his MBE from the Queen after being awarded the medal in the New Year's Honours.

Station Officer Evans, based at Princes Risborough, received his award for services to the fire service after working for it for 35 years.

Mr Evans, 53, went to Buckingham Palace on March 13. His proud wife, Carol, and family accompanied him.

He said: "It was a very special. The Queen asked a couple of questions like where I served and for how long. She said she'd had first-hand experience of the work, with the Windsor Castle fire."

He added: "It was a unique experience talking with the Queen and emotions ran high. I was quite nervous on the day."

The father-of-three was nominated for his service over the years and received particular praise for an incident in July 1998 when he and his crew were called out to a neighbours' dispute in which a householder was threatening to burn down his neighbour's house and car.

But Mr Evans said the award was in recognition of the fire service as well as himself.

He said: "All my colleagues at Princes Risborough and all over Buckinghamshire have been very supportive.

"The recognition is not just of me but for the fire service as a whole."

Mr Evans, who runs his own building improvement business, is now back on call as a retained firefighter after going to the ceremony but, unfortunately, not for long.

He said: "The retirement age is 55 for the fire service so I've got just over a year to do.

"I will be sad to leave."