BRITISH Empire Medals will be handed out to people from Brentwood in the Queen's New Year's Honours list.

Janet Brewer, secretary of military charity SSAFA's London North East branch, has been given a BEM for her volunteering services.

Ingatestone man Gerard McEwen will receive one for services to the community in Essex. 

Along with these two, Eileen Withrington from Shenfield, a volunteer at St Jude and St Paul's Church of England Primary School, Islington, has been given an BEM for services to education.