ENGLAND'S dramatic victory in the Ashes series against Australia in the summer was recognised in the New Year Honours.

The entire team, including Durham pair Steve Harmison and Paul Collingwood, were named in the list.

Captain Michael Vaughan, of Yorkshire, coach Duncan Fletcher and chairman of selectors David Graveney, a former Durham captain, were awarded OBEs.

MBEs were awarded to fast bowler Harmison and all-rounder Collingwood, as well as to Vaughan's Yorkshire colleague, Matthew Hoggard, England team-mates Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff, Ian Bell, Ashley Giles, Geraint Jones, Simon Jones, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Strauss and Marcus Trescothick.

Phil Neale, who managed the England cricket tour to South Africa and Zimbabwe last winter, was also awarded an OBE.

News of the honour was greeted with great delight in the Collingwood family, who are well-known in cricketing circles in Shotley Bridge, near Consett.

Paul was said to be relaxing with his wife, Vicky, at the couple's home, near Consett, yesterday, having only returned from England's recent tour of Pakistan last week.

His proud mother, Janet, said the MBE rounded off an unforgettable year for her son.

She said: "It caps it all off nicely. It's hard to believe everything that has happened in the past year.

"Paul is absolutely delighted. He got news of it when he was out in Pakistan and he got word back, but we had to say nothing about it until now.

"It seems to have got out, though, as my brother Derek, rang up from Lincoln saying he had heard, just yesterday.

"Paul's been involved so much with England and Durham, and he was married to Vicky while he was out in South Africa at the start of the year.

"He only got home from Pakistan two days before Christmas, but we had Christmas dinner with all the family at their home, which was lovely, because he has been away playing cricket abroad for five of the last six Christmases."