A local lady who has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of drug addition, helping thousands of families has been awarded an MBE as part of The Queen's Birthday Honours.

Elizabeth Burton-Phillips, from Twyford, has been awarded the honour due to her dedication to helping families of drug abuse, and forming a charity to support them.

DrugFAM was set up in 2006, after her son passed away due to prolonged drug abuse.

After discovering that both of her twin sons were addicted to heroin, she and her husband worked tirelessly to fund rehabilitation programmes in desperate attempts to help them, but sadly it did not work.

Her son Nick ended up taking his own life during a severe withdrawal from heroin.

The charity focuses on the families, acknowledging that they need support as well as their relative, and showing that drugs and alcohol can affect anybody's life, meaning nobody should be afraid or ashamed to ask for help if they are in that position.

From their office in High Wycombe, DrugFAM runs on volunteers, who man a helpline 12 hours a day, seven days a week, offering free, non judgemental and supportive advice tailored to the individual and their situation.

As well as setting up the charity, Mrs Burton-Phillips has also written a book- 'Mum can you lend me 20 quid? What drugs did to my family'.

This book has been read by 65,000 people in the UK, and has been translated into 5 different languages, who have all benefited and learnt from her honest, raw experience.

The book has now also been adapted into a play, and has been performed around the country.

Mrs Burton-Phillips will be presented with her award later on this year.