A Sudbury man who has helped thousands of disabled people access the internet has been awarded MBE in the New Year’s Honours list.

Robert ‘Bob’ Twitchin, who lives in Stilecroft Gardens, received the honour for services to the telecommunications industry and people with disabilities.

He said: “I’m tremendously thrilled and it’s a real boost. I’m very pleased to see the work of how IT can help recognised as it’s also recognition of all the volunteers, more than 300 nationwide, and the work they do and the importance of the internet for disabled people.”

A wheelchair user himself, the 68-year-old contracted polio as a child and uses his experiences to help others,

He works with telecom regulators Oftel and Ofcom in its committee for disabled and older people and also as part of its communications consumer panel following a 25 year career with British Telecom.

He regularly works with disabled people in their homes and in day centres.

He added: “Computers and internet access made a tremendous difference to my working life. There are people with different disabilities who still have great problems so I’m very much committed to try and make it easier for them to get online and be supported when they have problems.

Mr Twitchin is involved with the Church of St Andrew’s on Harrow Road as a licensed reader for the Church of England.

Married for 34 years, his wife Diana is also a wheelchair user.

“She’s very active in supporting other disabled people,” he said. “I wouldn’t be able to do the work I have to do without her support.”