AN officer with the Territorial Army has received an MBE for services to his regiment.

Major Ian Heath, who lives near Butterknowle, Bishop Auckland, travelled to Buckingham Palace with his wife Marjorie, to be invested by the Queen.

Maj Heath, 55, an administration officer, has been a permanent member of staff with the Queen's Own Yeomanry, based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for the last 14 years. Before that he was a warrant officer in the regular Army, serving in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

He said he was "stunned and speechless" when he learnt he was to receive the honour in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

He said: "It came as a complete surprise and my wife and I were over the moon."

Maj Heath paid tribute to his wife, who spends a lot of time with their four children and five grandchildren, and breeds dogs.

He said: "To be frank, without my wife's support, I wouldn't have got this. It is very difficult being an Army wife of any description. The hours that we work and the time that we work means life is extremely difficult for her.

"I am out and about almost all of the time and she is left to fend for herself."

Of his day at Buckingham Palace, Maj Heath said: "It was absolutely stunning.

"It was a terrific experience, especially as it was Her Majesty who did the investiture."