DAVE Drury, who keeps an Abingdon estate tidy, was among those honoured in the town's Mayor's Awards.

Outgoing mayor Lorraine Oates said: "He has been there a long time: I have gone to Peachcroft sometimes and there's an absolute dump - you go back in an hour and it's immaculate. He never moans or complains, he makes it look beautiful all on his own."

Margaret Jones, a calligrapher, was recognised for her work repainting 70 lifesize characters from Abingdon's past in the Stratton Way underpass last summer.

Peter Gent was thanked for his long-serving contribution to Abingdon's Britain in Bloom committee.

Elund Hallas was recognised for efforts to improve the environment and for her work with children. She is the administrator of the Oxford Preservation Trust and the director of the Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment.

Mrs Oates said: "I would love to give them all MBEs but we can't, so it's the Abingdon MBEs instead."