A DORSET woman who has spent more than 50 years supporting young dancers and musicians has picked up her MBE.

Felicity Belfield was given the honour in the New Year’s Honours list and received her award from the county’s Lord Lieutenant at a ceremony at County Hall in Dorchester.

Miss Belfield was a dancer and teacher who first set up a charitable trust in 1962 to help young, talented ballet dancers and has funded the training of up to five aspiring ballet dancers.

In 1990 she founded the Felicity Belfield Trust, providing talented young musicians with quality instruments, enabling countless students to fulfil their dreams.

One of the youngsters she supported went on to become the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year.

Mr Campbell said: “Her personal interest and care is what makes her Trust so special.

“Miss Belfield has not only provided the instruments, but supported the students throughout their education by upgrading those instruments when necessary, and in some cases gifting them, and funding expert tuition.”

Miss Belfield, who lives in Shaftesbury, has helped more than 230 students and provided hundreds of instruments, from piccolos to double bases, trumpets to guitars.