A 28-year-old has become one of the youngest recipients of a British Empire Medal for his decade-long work to transform derelict land in Bradford into a centre for sports.

Matthew Milnes, community sports and activities development worker at Scholemoor Beacon, received his honour from the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Dr Ingrid Roscoe on behalf of the Queen at Scholemoor Community Centre on Saturday.

Mr Milnes, who was named in the New Year’s Honour’s list among the district’s Olympic and Paralympic heroes, said: “Although I was delighted to receive this prestigious medal, it's important to me that the project and Bradford get the recognition they deserve, too.

“There are always ways to improve the facilities and the area, so I’m keen to use this momentum to carry on doing that, to help more and more young people.”

Mr Milnes, of Scholemoor, has been involved in a £500,000 project to create a flood-lit multi-use games area, a play area and adventure play facilities at the site of the former Scholemoor Sports Stadium.

He arrived at Scholemoor Youth Club at the age of 14 and became youngest community association chairman in the country when he established Scholemoor Community Association in 2004.

Since then, he has been involved in the project at the former site of sporting excellence, opened by Bobby Robson in 1985, and now works full-time for Scholemoor Beacon.

Mr Milnes found out he had been awarded the British Empire Medal, which was reinstated for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, while filming for an ITV programme which features the project, called Get Up and Give, presented by newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky.

The presentation, which was attended by the deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Mike Gibbons, was also filmed for the show.

In 2008, Mr Milnes was given funding for a sports apprenticeship from Provident, which since part-funded his permanent role.

Cathy Atkinson, community affairs executive, said: “Receiving the medal is a fantastic achievement for Matthew, for the project and for Bradford.”