OBE for Avengers' creative driving force

The main creative driving force behind The Avengers, The Professionals and many other successful television series and films has been appointed OBE.

Brian Clemens, who lives near Ampthill, Bedfordshire, has been honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for services to broadcasting and drama.

He told the BBC new website: "It is an honour and I am pleased from the point of view of all screenwriters."

He said screenwriters do not always get the recognition they deserve.

"It is an encouragement to the back-room boys - I count myself as one," he said.

He said he was looking forward to going to Buckingham Palace.

"That will be a fun experience - I'll probably write a thriller about it," he said.

The screenwriter wrote the pilot script for The Avengers - which is due to have a retrospective at the National Theatre in London in July.

Mr Clemens also cast Joanna Lumley for the follow-up series The New Avengers.

He has also written for films including Hammer horror movies.

Other people living in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire honoured in this year's Birthday Honours include:

Professor David Thomas Sines, the Pro vice-Chancellor, Buckinghamshire New University, was appointed CBE for services to Healthcare.

Mike Ingham, of Ashley Green, Buckinghamshire, chief football correspondent, BBC Radio Five Live - appointed for services to sports broadcasting.

The 2000 European women's doubles gold medallist in Badminton Donna Kellogg, who lives in Milton Keynes, was appointed MBE for services to Badminton.

Jazz pianist and composer Michael Garrick, of Hertfordshire, was appointed MBE for services to Music.