New Year Honours for McGeechan, Button and Tweddle

Ian McGeechan led the list of British sportsmen and women acclaimed in the New Year Honours List when he was knighted for his services to rugby union on Thursday.

McGeechan, 63, took part in seven British and Irish Lions tours in total, five as a coach and two as a player, and also represented Scotland and the Lions as a player in the 1970s.

"I am still getting used to it to be honest, it feels very strange," McGeechan told BBC Radio on Thursday. Formula One world champion Jenson Button, 29, was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) while Ross Brawn, the head of the Brawn team for which Button raced, was honoured with the OBE (Order of the British Empire).                                           

World champion gymnast Beth Tweddle was also awarded an MBE after winning the world floor title in London. Former England and Blackpool full-back Jimmy Armfield, who has battled back to health after a serious illness, has been made a CBE for his community work.

Blackburn Rovers striker Jason Roberts was awarded the MBE as part of the Grenada list, the Commonwealth country he represents at international level.