A PRESTON Tax Office worker is off to London to meet the Queen after being awarded an MBE.

Inland Revenue personal secretary Indira Mistry (pictured with her official MBE letter), 44, of Chalfont Field, in Fulwood, Preston, will receive her award later this year in recognition of her support work with the service.

As one of the first Hindu people to join the Preston office, based in Winckley Square, Indira was quickly snapped up and soon became one of the service's best assets.

Despite being employed as a typist 25 years ago, Indira's role in the Inland Revenue has been versatile, due to her Asian background.

Throughout her career she has been called upon to offer support and assistance to Inland Revenue customers from the ethnic minorities and even helps people complete their tax forms and documents.

Indira said: "I have been a help and support for the office and staff for the whole of the North West and have helped the department with the recruitment of ethnic minority employees.

"I also hold a stand for the Inland Revenue at the Mela Festival each year and organised a party for them about three years ago to mark the integration of the service in Preston.

"I enjoy my job and have not done it for any reward but I am looking forward to go to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen.

"Last July I saw her when I went to the garden party but I didn't get to meet her."

But Indira, who has a son Sumit, 19, at Cambridge University and a daughter Hema, 16, at Broughton High School, in Preston, says she could not have achieved so much without her husband Ramefh, 49, who works as a BAE engineer.

She added: "My children are absolutely chuffed and my husband is thrilled. I couldn't have done it without his help and support all these years."