A newspaper editor has been awarded an MBE for his charity and journalism work in the New Year’s Honours List.

John Butterworth, editor of the Shrewsbury and North Shropshire Chronicle, has helped to raise £4m during his career through fund-raising events and newspaper campaigns.

Among those to benefit from his work are Royal Shrewsbury Hospital’s stroke unit, the Red Cross and a children’s hospice.

John said: “I am absolutely thrilled and humbled by the honour.

“It is a tribute to the enthusiasm of all the young reporters who have helped with the charity appeals and to the generosity of the readers.

“The award is particularly poignant for my 83-year-old housebound mother, Sylvia, who has always wanted to go to Buckingham Palace. Now the OAP will go as a VIP.”

John, (54), has been in newspapers for 35 years, the past 11 of which he has been at the helm in Shrewsbury.

Prior to this position, he was editor of the Bromsgrove Advertiser/Messenger and the Leek Post and Times series.

During his time in Bromsgrove the paper launched nine charity appeals including helping the Flying Doctors motorway medical service, building an extension to a playgroup for handicapped children and upgrading a local disabled riding centre.

John also headed up a project in his home town of Stone, Staffordshire, to sponsor five eye care missions in a remote part of Afghanistan.

As well as organising charity appeals he also completed a seven-day trek in the Sahara Desert and brought the Orient Express to Shrewsbury for 250 readers to enjoy a trip and lunch on the famous train.

He was one of six regional editors to represent the Newspaper Society on its first ever delegation to China in 1985 and helped host the return trip the following year.

During his time as editor at Bromsgrove and Shrewsbury the papers have been nominated for 70 regional and national awards and won a number of titles.