STREET sweeper Gerry Newton, pictured right, swapped the streets of Rishton for Buckingham Palace when he picked up his MBE from the Queen.
And the 56-year-old from Derby Street, Accrington, got a special thank you from the Queen herself for keeping Hyndburn's streets spotless for the last 15 years.
Gerry said: "What made the day extra special for me was the fact that I was surrounded by all these military people and the Queen still found the time to congratulate me personally.
"The Queen spoke to me and told me I fully deserved the medal for all the work I do."
Gerry and his wife Kathleen, 52, travelled down to the capital in style and spent the night before the ceremony in a four star hotel.
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