An "inspirational" Aberystwyth woman has been recognised with an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to transport and policing.

Siwan Hayward, who now lives in Walthamstow, joined Transport For London (TfL) in 2007 and is now the Director of Compliance, Policing and On-Street Services, responsible for leading the transport policing, enforcement, community safety and security agenda.

In her role, Siwan – who attended Comins Coch and Penglais schools as well as Aberystwyth University - influences and helps set the strategic direction for thousands of police officers in the capital, focusing on improving the safety, security and reliability of transport and travelling in London.

She played a key role in the safety of the 2012 London Olympic Games, and has worked under all three London mayors, including favourite to be the new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

Her work in the capital has “achieved a remarkable 40 per cent reduction in the crime rate on London’s public transport network over the past ten years”, TfL said.

Siwan said she was “overjoyed” to be honoured.

“I am truly grateful to work with such brilliant people, who are as equally passionate as me in making sure that we keep our capital safe, secure and moving”, she said.

“Raising awareness is a huge part of the work we do and hopefully this award helps to support that.

“My job is incredibly rewarding and I hope that more women continue to realise the opportunities that are open to them in the operational areas of the transport industry.”

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now