JOURNALIST and broadcaster Anne Diamond, who began her career at the Bridgwater Mercury, has won the OBE in the New Year Honours list.

Ms Diamond, who now lives in Buckinghamshire, and is a campaigner and fundraiser, received the accolade for service to public health and to charity.

She later launched her career in television with BBC West in Bristol before moving to ATV Today , later Cebtral Television, as a reporter and newsreader.

She left to join ITN before rejoining the BBC on the nightly Nationwide programme and presenting BBC News After Noon.

She later joined TV-am, replacing Anna Ford and Angela Rippon.

She left TV-am to work on TV Weekly and then linked up with Nick Owen on the BBC daytime programme Anne and Nick.