A WYCHBOLD woman has been given the royal seal of approval for more than 30 years' work with injured swans.

Janet Harrigan, of Wychbold Swan Rescue Centre, was awarded the MBE for services to river birds at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace on October 21.

She said the Queen, who presented her with the award, was most interested in her work at the Worcester Road centre.

"It was wonderful," added Jan proudly, who was nursing a broken ankle when she collected the award

She found out she was to receive the MBE in June. Also celebrated in the Queen's Birthday Honours List were poet Pam Ayres, Grange Hill creator Phil Redmond and novelist Jilly Cooper.

Jan first set up the centre after she nursed a swan with a broken wing back to health in the early 1970s.

Since then she has seen many injured swans and water birds and has tirelessly spent hours nursing them back to good health.

Last year she was nominated for Midlander of the Year 2003.