A SEVENOAKS woman rubbed shoulders with Colin Firth as she collected her MBE from Buckingham Palace.

Joanne Lewis, 39, received her honour for services to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

She picked up the award alongside Colin Firth, who was handed a CBE for services to acting.

Mrs Lewis and her parents, Peter and Jane Dobson, said they thoroughly enjoyed the day at the palace.

Mrs Lewis said: "I am really proud to have received an MBE and had a wonderful day, it was all very well run.

"I met Colin Firth as well, which was a surprise.

"Overall it was a lovely day and it was nice that my parents could come along too."

The ceremony was held in the ball room and started at 10am.

Mr Dobson, of Quarry Hill Sevenoaks, said: "It's absolutely amazing that Jo has got an MBE, and at the age of 39 it is staggering.

"I was really surprised, as was Jo.

"We had a really lovely day at Buckingham Palace in the Ball Room, it was fantastic."

Mrs Lewis now lives in Preston with her husband, Kevin, where she works for HM Revenue and Customs.

She has been employed by the service for the past 16 years, all her working life.

She attended Weald of Kent Grammar School in Tonbridge and moved away from Sevenoaks after attending the University of Central Lancashire, where she studied modern languages.

Prince Charles carried out the investiture on January 26 and presented Mrs Lewis with her MBE.

An investiture is when an individual who has been awarded an honour receives their award in person from The Queen, The Prince of Wales or occasionally The Princess Royal.

About 25 investiture ceremonies are held each year, with the majority happening in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace.