Phil Spencer given MBE honour

Kent born Location, Location, Location presenter Phil Spencer has said it feels "very overwhelming" to have been made an MBE in the New Year Honours.

Spencer, 56, who has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for charitable services, is recognised for his work as a patron of homeless charity St Mungo's.

He told the Press Association: "I'm hugely honoured and humbled. I mean, it's a hell of a thing. It's not something that I'd ever expected or even thought about. So it's a huge honour."

He continued: "It's all very kind of sudden and a bit of a shock and a surprise. So it's quite overwhelming, it's not quite overwhelming, it's very overwhelming."

He added: "I'm completely blown away."

The property expert has worked alongside St Mungo's since 2010 and said his relationship with them began when he had a home search business in the 1990s finding homes for the "very wealthy" and decided to put a percentage of every fee "back into the bottom end of the market".

Over the years he has volunteered on various projects, events and fundraising activities for the non-profit organisation which supports people who are homeless and campaigns for change.

He is also patron of the charities Ellenor children's hospice, The Country Food Trust, and property industry charity Agents Giving.