Musician Omar Lye Fook said it was mind blowing to receive his MBE award for services to music.

The Croydon-born artist was given the Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s 2012 Birthday Honours List by the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary.

Omar, 43, who lives in Thornton Heath and Brighton, has been making music for more than 20 years.

The singer and songwriter grew up in a musical household and played the trumpet, piano and drums in his youth before making it into the Kent Youth Orchestra as a principle percussionist.

He graduated from the Guildhall School of music when he then started to mould his professional music career.

His first to singles were Mr Postman and You and Me but his most famous record was There's Nothing Like This, released in 1990.

The track reached the UK top 20 and remained top of the R&B and dance charts for several weeks.

Omar, who is currently finishing off a new album, also spends time running various workshops for young musicians.

He said he was chuffed to bits to be awarded the honour.

"It is absolutely fantastic and I am so chuffed to be honest. It came completely out of the blue as I have been underground for a little while so it is fantastic," he said.

"I got told that I was nominated a few months ago but I didn't really think anything of it is a big deal and you never really know with these things.

"But when I read the top of the letter I was like 'wow, this is the real deal' so that was great."

He added: "It was fantastic to get it from such a high office. I have never won any BRIT awards or Mercury awards but to get one that supersedes all of those is mind blowing.

"I have been making music for a long time, I have studied music since I was 8-year-old. I get a real buzz out of it and to see people sing my songs is great. Getting this award is like the cherry on top."