A HOLOCAUST survivor and community champion have joined household names such as Olivia Newton-John, Sam Mendes and Clive Lloyd on the star-studded list of celebrities,and figures from the arts, sciences and charity awarded in this year’s New Year’s Honours list.

Ruth Lachs from Prestwich, who made an extraordinary escape from Nazi Germany as a child, has been recognised with a British Empire Medal for services to Holocaust education.

Originally from Hamburg Mrs Lachs family fled to The Netherlands shortly before the Second World War.

After the Nazis occupied the country Mrs Lachs and her family were rounded up and she was placed in creche where children were daily chosen for deportation to concentration camps.

However in an extraordinary twist of fate Mrs Lachs’s former nanny was working at the creche hid her in a sandpit in dead silence to avoid detection ­— an act which saved her life.

She now works tirelessly to share her experiences and educate others about the genocide.

Also receiving a British Empire Medal is Dorothy Wood, chairman of the Abbey Close Tenants and Residents Association, for her services to the community of Radcliffe.

The Abbey Close TRA was founded in 2003 to tackle anti-social behaviour problems in the surrounding community.

It has previously dealt with issues such as abandoned vehicles, noise, accommodation problems and general misbehaviour.

Now 45 members strong the group also responds to community issues and organises regular activities to prevent social isolation.

Other regional winners include three more Holocaust survivors ­— Dr Peter Kerer Gisela Feldman and Sonja Sternberg­ — as well as; Dr Joseph Anthony Rafferty, chief executive Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust, for services to suicide prevention; Dr Zahid Mehmood Chauhan, for services to homeless people; Mohamed Ashraf Ali, head of projects at the British Muslim Heritage Centre, for services to community relations; Nicholas Brendan Buckley, founder and chief executive officer of The Mancunian Way, for services to young people and the community in Greater Manchester; and Peter Saville, designer of the iconic Joy Division artwork, who receives a CBE.

They joined famous faces and national figures to receive recognition such as Grease star Olivia Newton-John, who is made a Dame for services to charity, cancer research and entertainment. She said: “I am extremely excited, honoured and grateful beyond words to be included with such an esteemed group of women who have received this distinguished award before me.”

There were knighthoods for James Bond director Sam Mendes for services to drama and politician Ian Duncan Smith ­— architect of the controversial Universal Credit system.

While England’s 2019 cricketing heroes, including Joe Root and Ben Stokes, were also honoured.