Kylie Minogue has been awarded the OBE in the New Year Honours List.

The Australian singer said she was "deeply touched" to be given the award - standing for Officer of the British Empire.

Speaking from her family home in Melbourne, Minogue said she was "almost as surprised as I am honoured," according to the BBC.

The establishment honour comes at the end of a year which has seen Kylie come back from her breast cancer ordeal with her tenth studio album, 'X', two television specials, her own perfume, and a starring role in the Doctor Who Christmas episode.

Next month will mark 20 years since her first single 'I Should Be So Lucky' topped the chart.

She continued: "I feel deeply touched to be acknowledged by the UK, my adopted home, in this way. This last year I have felt so much love and support from everyone as I took greater steps back into the public domain, and it is with absolute gratitude and joy that I say farewell to 2007 and look forward to what the new year will bring."

Soul II Soul pioneer Jazzie B also receives the OBE. He told BBC 1Xtra: "Hopefully it's a little bit of a sign for anybody else that things can happen - it's just a case of staying strong and believing in yourself.

Jethro Tull singer Ian Anderson and Martin Mills, founder of the Beggars Group of labels, both receive MBEs.