A Royal Marine who was raised along alongside three siblings by his single mother in Kingston has received an MBE.

Local lad Ryan Morris received the prestigious award after being named in the Queen's New Year's Honour's list after a decorated career in the armed forces.

Ryan left Beverley Boys School with very few qualifications and attended Coombe Sixth Form before achieving his dream of joining the Royal Marine Corps.

Catherine Pugh, the mother of one of his school friends said: “He deserves every accolade that he receives, we couldn't be more proud of this local boy if we tried.”

Ryan passed out with flying colours and went on to serve in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan’s Helmand province on at least two separate tours of duty.

He then became a serving physical training instructor within the corps and helped to train new recruits, before going on to complete qualifications which enabled him to help those left as amputees after fighting.

He worked at Headley Court in Epsom, and trained many amputees for both the Invictus Games and for the Paralympic Games.

Ryan has now begun the first ever mental health project within the armed services.

Ryan, who is called Mo by comrades, is now married to his wife Erin have had three children together, living on the Royal Marine camp in Lympstone, Devon.