PRINCE Charles has praised a Preston business woman for her achievements at work.

Vanda Murray, who grew up in Farringdon Park, made a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Buckingham Palace to receive her Order of the British Empire (OBE) from the Prince.

The mother-of-two earned her New Year's Honour in recognition of her services to industry and export.

Vanda, 41, said: "Meeting Prince Charles was great -- he can make every single person feel special. He congratulated me on my work and asked me how I had learnt to do everything."

Currently a chief executive, Vanda is responsible for the performance of seven small businesses who are listed on the London Stock Exchange. Vanda is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and has spent her whole career marketing business products and services.

Now based in Gloucester, she still travels to France, South Africa and USA, making use of the languages she studied at Preston College. She studied French, German and English A-levels at the college and was a keen ballroom dancer in her spare time.

She said: "I still come to Preston once a month to visit my mum, Wyn Villis. Preston has a nice feeling of community and I still feel like it is my home. You leave, but you don't leave."

On the big day Vanda was accompanied to the palace by her husband David and their six-year-old son Thom.

She said: "Finally I walked into the ballroom where the band was playing. Guests stood on either side and Prince Charles and the Yeoman of the guard were at the end of the room. I walked forward and curtsied and then Prince Charles pinned the medal on to my lapel and spoke to me, I curtsied and then sat down."

Vanda added: "I am deeply honoured to receive this award."