A Wimbledon roofer has been honoured with an MBE in this year’s Queen’s birthday honours.

Paul Strank, who founded Wimbledon construction company Paul Strank and Sons Roofing in 1969, was awarded an MBE for his services to charity and the community.

The roofer, from Worcester Park, said he had to read the letter informing him of the honour at least five times before it sunk in and was completely unexpected.

His company has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities including Children and Need and Chase Hospice since it started fundraising in 1982.

The team now raise £2,000 a week through fundraising events, raffles and donations and every year host a charity gala which last year raised more than £50,000 alone.

On first setting up his business he said: "It was such a struggle for the first few years.

"Then things got easier and you think I have achieved everything I wanted to, and I though it was time to put something back."

He added: "I might have got the MBE because of my name but I couldn’t have done it without my wife and staff.

"They give up a lot of their time and weekends and we do a gala every year.

"My staff are behind it as much as I am."