ICONIC south Essex singer Alison Moyet has been recognised for her services to music on the Queens Birthday Honours list.

Billericay born Moyet, who grow up in Basildon, is set to be made an MBE and was one of the biggest pop stars in the 80s, forming the synth-pop duo Yazoo with Vince Clarke, who also grew up in Basildon.

Musicians across south Essex have lauded the 59-year-old - a huge Southend United fan - for her “inspirational” work in showing what “Essex is made of.”

Moyet, who has sold more than 23 million records around the world and last released an album in 2017 with Other, said: “I have been gifted an MBE on the occasion of the Queen’s Birthday.

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“A remarkable, happy-making 60th birthday surprise for me.

“Recognition for a life in music is always unpredictable and humbling.

“This doesn’t come with a goody bag or gym membership, so I don’t feel too bad a thief.

“Instead, I think of my grandparents who toiled so that I might prance.

“It makes me proud to be able to attach their history to this. Thank you.”

She was named British female solo artist at the Brit Awards in 1985.

Southend’s Sam Duckworth, known as Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, read out Yazoo’s hit Only You at his best friends wedding as a speech.

He said: “She’s a legend, and it’s great she’s been recognised.

“It’s a shame that sometimes musicians aren’t recognised in their lifetime.

“This is completely deserved.

“Whenever people ask about famous musicians or celebrities from Essex, Alison is always mentioned.

“Her work was pioneering at the time, and still is now.

“The synth-pop songs we see now wouldn’t be where they are without Alison.”

Moyet was previously married to London firefighter Malcolm Lee, with whom she has a son, while she has a daughter with former partner Kim McCarthy and a daughter with David Ballard.

Speaking on Desert Island Discs in 2014, Moyet told how once being accidentally rude to her “idol” Elvis Costello led to a severe struggle with anxiety disorder agoraphobia.

She had been to see him play in Southend and bumped into him at an afterparty.

Moyet told host Kirsty Young: “He was charming and I wanted to say to him ‘you were wonderful’ and had all these wonderful descriptions of him.

“What came out of my mouth was, ‘You dragged that out a bit, didn’t you?’ Once I did that, I just felt, I don’t trust myself in polite society.”

Moyet said from that point on she felt so bad about the incident she could no longer listen to Costello’s records.

In 2011, Alison Moyet accepted an honorary degree from South Essex College.

Before studying in Southend, Moyet studied at the Nicholas School, Basildon, which later merged with the Laindon School to become James Hornsby High School.