A woman who became a world-renowned artist despite having no arms is among the Sussex heroes celebrated in the New Year's Honours List.

Alison Lapper, 37, who was born without arms and with only partially-formed legs and feet, has been made an MBE.

She is one of 19 individuals from across the county rewarded with prestigious honours in the list revealed today.

Six residents have been made Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), with a further 12 being made Members of the order (MBE).

Ms Lapper, who is bringing up her three-year-old son as a single parent, said: "I feel completely overwhelmed. When I was first told about it, I thought it was a joke.

"It is gradually beginning to sink in now but I am still in shock. I just can't get my head around it."

Ms Lapper, who lives in Shoreham, gained a first-class degree in fine art from Brighton University.

She has been a member of the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists' Association for eight years and her work has gained her worldwide recognition.

In February, she will travel to Spain where she will be presented with an award by the Scientific Community of the International Women and Disability Congress.

She gave birth to her son Parys on January 6, 2000, and admitted the past three years have been the hardest.

But the difficulties she has faced in bringing up Parys and in daily life have proved an inspiration for her art.

It is her service to art which has earned her the MBE.

She said: "Bringing up a child is no mean feat for anybody but although things have been hard, I would not change it for the world. Parys is my pride and joy.

"I love my art too and it is so important to me that I have been made an MBE because I am an artist, not because I am disabled.

"I use my art to translate my experiences.

"Through my work I explore issues such as disability and motherhood."