A Cheshire couple whose triumphs have been celebrated by a local celebrity cake maker have been made a knight and dame in the New Year Honours list.

North West's "golden" couple, Olympic champions Laura and Jason Kenny have a new accolade to add to their name given to them for their services to cycling in the New Year Honours.

Debbie Fenton, owner of Lois's Little Cake & Chocolate Company in Crewe Road, Sandbach made a birthday cake for the Olympian couple's son.

So impressed were the Kenny's family with the cake that Debbie was once with making something special – a stunning cake to mark their homecoming from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Laura Kenny said on her Instagram account: "I feel so incredibly proud to be given the honour of Dame. What I do on a daily basis, riding my bike, never really feels like a job.

"I feel so lucky that this has been the case for my entire career. There is a whole team of people behind me that make all of this possible.

"I am grateful and thankful to all of them, especially Albie for making sure my feet are kept firmly on the ground. I am also so incredibly proud of my husband, or shall I say Sir Jason Kenny, who I am lucky enough to share all the best experiences with."

Other Cheshire recipients in the New Year Honours included a charity worker from Crewe, David Newell, recognised for his work helping refugees and migrants. David was awarded a British Empire Medal.

Mr Newell is the manager of Brushstrokes, a West Midlands-based charity, which works with asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.

Others receiving recognition in the Honours List locally in Cheshire include paralympic athlete Andy Small from Nantwich.

The former South Cheshire College student, who won gold in last summer's Tokyo Paralympic games, receives an MBE.

Former Crewe Alex manager Steve Holland receives an MBE for services to football. Now resident in Surrey, the 51-year-old England assistant manager's coaching abilities have been influential behind the public glare in roles at Chelsea and also serving under Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate at under-21 level.

Other recipients of honours in Cheshire were Figen Ayse Murray, a campaigner and educator from Poynton, who works in counter terrorism services.

Macclesfield-based Anthony Swallow, a founder of Cre8 Macclesfield Youth and Community Programme, gets an OBE for his services to young people and to the community in Cheshire.

Cynthia Lloyd, from Northwich, has been awarded an MBE for services to young people in Cheshire.

Biddulph resident, Kay McIntyre, a youth support manager with Cheshire East Council, also received an MBE for services to children and young people.

Jo Conchie, from Winsford, received a British Empire Medal for services to the community during the pandemic.

Celebrities receiving gongs include Wilmslow-based actor Bill Roache, the legendery Ken Barlow in Coronation Street, who receives an OBE for services to drama and charity.

Daniel Craig of James Bond fame receives a CMG, the same award that his fictional character possessed, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to film.

Songwriter Bernie Taupin, best known for his long-term collaboration with Sir Elton John, was been awarded a CBE.

While the extraordinary achievements of those supporting the fight against Covid-19 have been recognised, including Rod McKenzie, the

Chief Development Officer and Executive Vice President of Global Product Development at Pfizer, Sean Marrett, the Chief Business and Commercial Officer at BioNtech and Melanie Ivarrson, the Chief Development Officer at Moderna.

England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, and his deputy, Jonathan Van-Tam, have been given knighthoods.