A businesswoman has been personally picked by The Queen to attend a high profile reception at Buckingham Palace.

Helen Colley, the founder and managing director of Farmhouse Fare, will attend the Achievers Reception on Tuesday, which will recognise "people who have made a significant contribution to local or national life in 2006."

In total, 260 people are invited, plus one guest each. The achievers were chosen from all walks of life including the arts and entertainment industries, armed forces, charity sector and sport.

Some household names are also expected to attend but have not yet been confirmed.

Mrs Colley, who will attend with husband Michael, said the visit will be the highlight of a year of achievements for her and the firm, which has its headquarters in Clitheroe.

She said: "I'm astonished, privileged and very excited. It's a lovely thing to be chosen - what dreams are made of!

"It's the pinacle of what we have achieved. It means an awful lot for me."

During the evening reception, hosted by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Mrs Colley should have the chance to meet the monarch and exchange a few words.

The palace chose the select few to attend by researching up and down the country and taking nominations from bodies like the Welsh and Scottish Parliaments.

Mrs Colley added: "I have never been to the palace before. I've met Prince Charles and I have catered for royalty, but nothing like this. It really came out of the blue.

"It will be a diverse crowd - anyone who has made a contribution in 2006 whether in business or the community."

Farmhouse Fare employs 100 people at its base and produces more than 250,000 puddings a week using ingredients includ-ing 15 tonnes of butter and eight tonnes of cream.

The firm was started by Mrs Colley when a charity coffee morning stall was a sell-out. It has just been sold to food giant Daniels Chilled Foods, best known for its New Covent Garden soup.