A DINAS Powys woman has been awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours list for her service to administrative justice in Wales and volunteering.

Margaret Lynne McCabe, 62, of Stacey Road, has been honoured for developing a new justice function within the Welsh Government as well as her charitable activities.

The New Years Honours list for 2018 was officially revealed today (Friday, December 29).

She was nominated for the MBE for demonstrating "truly outstanding leadership" and in establishing the Welsh Tribunals Unit, overcoming a set of unique challenges showing vision, resilience and determination.

Mrs McCabe, who has worked for the Welsh Government for 40 years, created a new unit from the five distinct tribunals in four separate locations and set about bringing them together into a single team.

Today the unit is providing the foundations of growing Welsh Government expertise in the justice field.

She has also been recognised for her volunteering and started out in this field at St David's Hospital Cardiff.

She served as clerk to the governing body of Radnor Road Junior School, and was elected parent governor of St Cyres Secondary School for five years.

She has been singing all her life and has been part of choirs helping to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.

Mrs McCabe said: "I am humbled and delighted. I am a very ordinary person.

"It came completely out of the blue but it is very exciting and I can't wait to get the medal."

She said that she wants to something back to the community through her passion for singing.

"I have been a volunteer all my life and a parent governor at St Cyres School coaching and mentoring students across south Wales."

"My love of singing means I can combine a hobby and raising funds."

Cllr Bob Penrose, Vale of Glamorgan Council cabinet member for learning and culture, said: “On behalf of the Vale council, I’d like to congratulate Margaret on her fantastic achievement.

"While serving as clerk to the governing body of Radnor School and as parent governor of St Cyres School, Margaret completed significant work in her role for Welsh government and still found time to commit to charity.

"This honour is something to be rightly proud of and one that is very much warranted."