Alice Pyne conferred with medal in Queen's Birthday Honours list

Alice Pyne and her sister, Milly, are honoured with British Empire Medals

Two teenage sisters from south Cumbria have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Alice Pyne, 16, and her sister, Milly, 13, from Ulverston, will both receive the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to charity.

Also honoured is Workington's Labour MP, Tony Cunningham, who has been given a knighthood.

Cumbria's chief constable, Stuart Hyde, has been awarded the Queen's Police Medal.

Alice and Milly are among the first people in 20 years to receive the BEM after it was scrapped in 1993.

They have raised more than £100,000 for charity.

Diagnosed with leukaemia aged 13, Alice came to prominence when a list of things she wanted to achieve before she died was posted on the internet.

The list attracted international media attention.

She said: "While it is really nice to get recognised for doing something, it makes me feel like I am making a difference."

During 2011 Alice met Prime Minister David Cameron.

On her "bucket list" was a hope that everyone in the UK would sign up as a bone marrow donor, an aspiration which Mr Cameron praised in the House of Commons.

Milly said: "It is just such a huge honour and I am so privileged.

"I can't believe that I have been honoured by the Queen and that me and my sister are doing it together."

The medal was founded in 1917 and was awarded for "meritorious" actions by civilians or military personnel, although the recipients did not attend a royal investiture.

It was scrapped in 1993 by former Conservative Prime Minister John Major, as part of his drive towards a "classless" society.

The BEM has been reintroduced to coincide with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee to honour volunteers who make a real difference to their communities.

Honours lists are published twice a year at New Year and in mid-June on the date of The Queen's official birthday.

The UK honours system is overseen by the Cabinet Office Honours and Appointments Secretariat.