A BURNHAM woman has been honoured in the New Year Honours list.

Dawn Wood, a PC with Essex Police's marine unit, was thrilled to be awarded the British Empire Medal.

She has built relationships between the police and the marine community along the Essex coast, and is highly respected for her conservation work and incredible achievements as an endurance athlete.

Two years ago, she completed a solo row of the Atlantic to highlight the problem of plastic pollution in the oceans.

She recorded the second-fastest time by a woman to cross the Atlantic in February 2019 when she completed the 3,000-mile voyage from the Canary Islands to Barbados in 53 days.

PC Wood battled raging seas and howling winds as she raised more than £20,000 and was later named fundraiser of the year by the Marine Conservation Society.

She also visited more than 50 schools and community groups to share her inspirational story and promote conservation and awareness of plastic pollution.

PC Wood said: “I had to read the letter three or four times – I couldn’t believe it.

"I thought the medal would just be for the solo row but to be recognised for the work that I’ve done in maritime policing is just unbelievable.

"I’m not normally lost for words, but I was this time.”

In 2023 she hopes to complete another incredible charity feat as part of a four-woman team rowing the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Hawaii.