The head of two arts and culture organisations in the county has been made an MBE at Windsor Castle.

Gurvinder Sandher, artistic director of Gravesend-based Cohesion Plus and CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council, received his award for services to the arts and the communities of Kent from Anne, Princess Royal.

Mr Sandher received his MBE medal on February 28 but had been awarded by the late Queen Elizabeth II in her last birthday honours list last June.

After the ceremony, he commented: "This is a truly proud moment for me, my family and also all the community groups and partners I have had the privilege of working with over the past 24 years.

"It was great to meet with Anne, Princess Royal and talk about our work in Kent, bringing communities together and celebrating what binds us rather than divides us.

"As a son of immigrants to receive this recognition just shows what can be achieved with hard work, determination and a little bit of luck."

Cohesion Plus is a north Kent based, BAME-led community arts organisation which produces festivals such as the Holi Festival of Colour in Dartford last weekend.

Kent Equality Cohesion Council works with both the voluntary and statutory sector to promote community cohesion and to eliminate discrimination through the arts.

Speaking when he learned he was to receive the honour, last summer, Mr Sandher said: "I am particularly pleased that my parents will be able to see and enjoy this moment.

"My parents arrived in the early '60s so they went through many hardships as did I growing up.

"They will be surprised and shocked. for someone from a working class background this is not the kind of thing that happens to us, that is why it is so humbling."