Jade Jones adds MBE to Olympic gold in New Year Honours

Jade Jones was Wales youngest Olympic gold medal winner at London 2012

Olympic gold medallist Jade Jones receives an MBE in the New Year Honours, capping a fantastic 2012 for the young athlete.

Jones, from Flint, became Wales' youngest Olympic gold medal winner when she triumphed in taekwondo at the London Olympics.

Earlier this month the 19-year-old was voted BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year.

She joins others from north east Wales honoured for service to public life.

Jones became one of the biggest starts of London 2012 when she won in the -57kg women's category in taekwondo in August, becoming Team GB's youngest champion of the games.

The teenager, who was encouraged to take up the Asian martial art by her grandfather Martin to keep her off the streets, was cheered on to her stunning victory by family and friends.

Leisure centre

Afterwards, she admitted: "To be the first ever British taekwondo athlete to win Olympic gold is amazing."

The star, who is based in Manchester where she trains with the GB taekwondo squad, has been very busy since her Olympic triumph, appearing on TV and having a leisure centre in her native Flint named after her.

At the start of this month she beat Wales rugby star Dan Lydiate and a fellow Olympian, cyclist Geraint Thomas, to take the BBC Wales sports personality title, saying it was a "great honour" that people had chosen her in the public vote.

Also recognised for his services to London 2012 is Andrew Worthington, was the chair of the North West Steering Group for the Olympics.

Mr Worthington, from Mold, Flintshire who was already an MBE, has now been honoured with the OBE.

Three people from north east Wales receive the British Empire Medal (BEM) for their community service.

Denise Kelly, who was a higher level teaching assistant at Bodnant Infants School, Prestatyn is awarded the medal for services to education in Denbighshire.

Sheila Roberts of Buckley, Flintshire, and Frederick Hobbs of Prestatyn are both recognised for their services to the community with BEMs.