Lee Pearson and Adam Peaty receive New Year Honours

Sporting stars Lee Pearson, Adam Peaty and Joe Clarke have been recognised in the New Year Honours list.

Para-equestrian Pearson has been knighted, while swimmer Peaty and canoeist Clarke have been made MBEs.

Rio flagbearer Pearson already held the MBE, OBE and CBE for services to equestrianism and to disabled sport.

Peaty, a City of Derby swimmer from Uttoxeter, smashed his own world record at Rio 2016 to take gold in the men's 100m breaststroke.

He won by more than a second and a half, taking the first Olympic gold for a British man in the pool in 28 years.

Clarke, a member of Stafford and Stone Canoe Club, produced a stunning final run to take gold in the kayak K1 at Rio.

Joe Clarke won gold in the Kayak (K1) Men's final

At this year's Paralympic Games, Pearson added gold from the individual freestyle grade Ib and silver in dressage to his golds in Beijing and London.

Lee Pearson has won 10 Paralympic gold medals

Peaty beat his own world record at Rio

Also honoured are Drayton Manor Park chief executive Colin Bryan who has been made OBE.

Colin Bryan, chief executive of Drayton Manor Park, has been recognised for his tourism and charity work

Colin Bryan, who runs the park near Tamworth, was recognised for his charity work and contribution to tourism.

He said: "I feel very honoured to receive this OBE. I still love watching our guests have fun, enjoying themselves, knowing I have played a part in that."

Victim Support volunteer Peter Cave, 91, from Newcastle-under-Lyme was also appointed OBE.

"His contribution has empowered victims to being to move on from their experiences as well as helping justice to be done and to be seen to be done," his citation said.