THE rescue efforts carried out in the midst of London's July 7 suicide bombings have been recognised in the Queen's New Year honours list, published today.

Medics, members of the emergency services, London transport staff and care workers dominate the honours.

Their valour and heroic achievements were hailed by Downing Street as demonstrating immense strength of spirit and courage.

Their actions are credited with helping keep the death toll to 56, which included the four terrorists.

Meanwhile, the Ashes-winning England cricket team is also honoured, with captain Michael Vaughan, who plays for Yorkshire, receiving an OBE.

The other players, who include Durham duo Steve Harmison and Paul Collingwood, and Yorkshire's Matthew Hoggard, each get an MBE.

Mountaineer Alan Hinkes, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, who became the first Briton to climb the world's 14 highest peaks, is awarded an OBE.

There is also recognition for Lord Coe, who is awarded an OBE, and the team that secured the 2012 Olympics for London.

The list contains the usual crop of showbusiness personalities, with a CBE for the evergreen 77-year-old entertainer Bruce Forsyth.

A delighted Forsyth, most recently seen as the co-host of the BBC smash-hit show Strictly Come Dancing, said: "I will be Strictly Come quick-stepping with delight with my wife tonight, and if she won't dance with me then I'll dance with my alsatian dog."

Tom Jones, the singing phenomenon who progressed from humble beginnings in the Welsh Valleys to international acclaim, gets a knighthood.

Vivienne Westwood, fashion designer and effectively one of the creators of punk, becomes a dame.

Peter Snow, the outgoing so-called "monarch of the election swingometer", is recognised with a CBE.

The list also includes those regarded by the Government as at "the sharp end" of society, including a lollipop lady, a retired cleaner, a fishmonger, a dinner lady, a postman, and the man once responsible for keeping Big Ben accurate to within a fraction of a second.