Silsden'S world champion trial bike rider Dougie Lampkin has been awarded the MBE.

Mr Lampkin, who has 10 world titles and has been British Champion six times, was honoured for services to motorcycle trials riding in the Queen's New Year Honours list.

The 25-year old comes from a long line of motorcycling champions - his father Martin was the 1975 world champion, and his uncle, Arthur, is famed for his scrambling success in the 1960s.

He is however the first member of the family to be honoured with an MBE. He is also the first motorcycle trials rider to be given the honour.

Mr Lampkin told the Herald: "All the family think it is great. They have been ringing up and congratulating me."

The champion found out he had been nominated about six weeks ago, but only received confirmation on Sunday.

"It is nice to be honoured in this way particularly at this age. Most people get theirs for their commitment to certain charities and have spent a lifetime doing it," he said.

He added that it more than made up for being snubbed at the Sports Personality of the Year Award, to which he had not been invited for the past three years. He puts this down to the lack of recognition for motorcycle trial riding in the sporting world and media.

Mr Lampkin has been riding since he was three at his parents' farm in Silsden, and won his first competition at the age of nine.

He has won every indoor and outdoor world title since 1997 and is just two world titles away from Jordi Tarres' record of seven successive titles. His ambition is to run his own team and help young riders achieve the same success.

The champion divides his time between his home in the Isle of Man, and his parents' residence in Silsden.

He will accept his award from the Queen within the next five months, and he hopes that the medal will raise the profile of the sport.

He said: "It was great to get the medal especially since I don't get the recognition many people think I should get."

He is currently getting ready for the Sheffield Indoor world championships this weekend, which marks the start of the motor trials season.

He added: "I have achieved pretty much what I set out to do. I have won five outdoor trails and the most anyone has won is seven. I would like to beat that."