A photojournalist from Shepton Mallet has been recognised in the King's Birthday honours list.

Sir Don McCullin CBE has been appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to photojournalism. He is among the Somerset names included in this year's list.

The honour recognises a career spent documenting conflict, poverty and social change across the world. Sir Don is widely known for his work from Vietnam, Biafra, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and other major conflicts of the 20th century.

The Shepton Mallet photographer is one of the most prominent local names to be recognised in the latest honours. The Order of the Companions of Honour is awarded to people who have made a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine or government over a long period.

Sir Don's recognition comes as he prepares to publish what has been described as his final book. The new photobook, titled Vietnam, will revisit the conflict he covered extensively as a young photographer.

The book is due to be published by GOST Books in October. It will include around 100 photographs from Vietnam, with some images previously unseen.

Sir Don first travelled to Vietnam in the 1960s and went on to take some of the defining photographs of the war. His work showed soldiers, civilians and the damage left by the conflict.

Somerset's honours list also includes people recognised for work in broadcasting, community sport, education, defence, public service, the arts and voluntary work. Other names include broadcaster and documentary maker Charlotte Webster and Mel Bound, who founded This Woman Runs.

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Local volunteers across the county have also been recognised for service to their communities. The list includes people involved in scouting, church music and community support roles in towns including Minehead, Taunton and Frome.

The full King's Birthday honours list was published on Thursday, 12 June.

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