Boney M singer Liz Mitchell said she is "proud" to be the second person in her family to receive an MBE.

Her father, Norman, also received the same honour nearly a decade ago for his work in the community.

He died earlier this year, and the 72-year-old, who was born in Jamaica and grew up in Harlesden, said having two people in the same family honoured is a "real achievement".

The Rivers of Babylon singer said many people in the Windrush generation have felt "neglected" in the past and this award shows how hard they have worked in the UK.

Mitchell, a founder member of the disco group, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours list for her services to music and to charity.

Ms Mitchell said: "It's a good feeling, I mean it's been years, and we're heading into our 50th year of Boney M.

"It's been a long time and I have enjoyed it, I still enjoy it as the young people are now listening.

"I expected some kind of response from the public, maybe ten years if we make good music - most people get that, if they're lucky."

Ms Mitchell said she "could never have imagined" that Boney M would still have so much success after 50 years.

The singer lost her father - at the age of 103 - in May this year.

She said: "I heard I was going to get the MBE while I was burying my father in Jamaica.

"I arrived in Jamaica in June, because he died in May, and I travelled to Jamaica for his second funeral."

The singer said she received "lots of calls" from loved ones informing her of the MBE.

She said: "It was because my father had received the award as well for his community services.

"Everyone was like 'it's like a message from your dad'."

Ms Mitchell admitted that she thought the group "might have received something earlier" and spoke of how the band has often been overlooked by the music industry.

She said: "It was recognised that Liz Mitchell is the lead singer of three of the best songs of all time.

"I think if you're not pushing for it, you can be easily forgotten.

"There's so many great musicians and everyone wants to be recognised."

Ms Mitchell's father received his MBE in 2014 for services to the community.

She said: "He was the champion for senior citizens, he was older than some of them. He was also like a nurse.

"When the people were too old to move, my dad was one of those people who would go and help them.

"He carried out all kinds of work in which he would assist the community.

"It wasn't just the people he knew, he would help the mayor, the MP, the pastures - I think he knew every pasture in his area.

"He was just that person who was the community man, who felt responsible for his community.

"He was very proud of his MBE, I think he wore his badge everywhere."

Ms Mitchell added: "To have two members of the family have an MBE shows that we - as the people from the Windrush generation - have tried really hard to work hard and be the best we can be in this country."