A businessman who runs a string of McDonald’s restaurants including branches in Wembley, Neasden, Kilburn and Cricklewood, has been made recognised in the Queen’s Birthdays Honours list.

Atul Pathak has been made an OBE for services to entrepreneurship.

The Indian-born businessman runs 26 franchises of the fast food eateries through his company, Appt Corporation Ltd which he set up in 2003.

In 2013 he launched the Atul Pathak Community Awards offering 20 grants to charities and organisations.

Mr Pathak, who came to the UK 30 years ago, said: “I am overwhelmed and humbled to receive this honour.

As my business has grown, the values that my parents instilled have always driven me. These are understanding the importance of education, the power of hard work and the necessity of giving back to your community.

“I believe especially that as a businessperson, I have a responsibility to give something back to the local

“It is for this reason that I established the Atul Pathak Community Awards.

“I would very much like to share this honour with my staff as well as those from the local community and charity groups for the outstanding and necessary work that they do.”