REMEMBERING when to curtsey proved the most difficult part of Mairwen Guard's visit to Buckingham Palace to collect her MBE.

Mrs Guard, who runs CottonTails rabbit sanctuary in Station Road, Westbury was presented with the honour on Thursday, in recognition of her work rescuing rabbits and guinea pigs over the past 14 years.

She said: "It was quite nerve-wracking with all the pomp and circumstance. I was absolutely thrilled to be given the MBE but I was relieved when it was all over. "It was a great honour to meet the Queen and she seemed a very nice lady.

"She said she was aware I had a centre for rabbits and asked whereabouts it was in Wiltshire and how long it had been running."

After being taken into the gallery in the palace Mrs Guard and the other recipients were given instructions on what to do on meeting the Queen, including when to curtsey and to remember to walk backwards when leaving.

"That was the most difficult part which most people forgot. Luckily I remembered," said Mrs Guard.

"I met some really interesting people there. There was a very nice chap from Norfolk who works in agriculture. He spends a lot of time getting rid of rabbits while I spend my time looking after them."

She also saw a number of celebrities including actor Robbie Coltrane who was at the palace to receive an OBE. She said: "When I went in I looked out over this sea of people when I saw my husband who gave me a beaming smile. "He was there with my two eldest sons.

"That was very special and made the ceremony all the better because it's all about sharing it. "Then when I got home my youngest son gave me a bunch of flowers and it was these two little touches that were more important to me than anything else.

"It was a once in a lifetime experience and hopefully will be useful for the charity." CottonTails was born after Mrs Guard, who has a scientific background, nursed a young brain-damaged rabbit back to health and discovered the plight of other abandoned rabbits.

She decided to set up a centre to help them and now takes in about 250 rabbits a year and 150 guinea pigs, which have to be neutered and vaccinated before being rehomed.

Mrs Guard said Easter was the time of year when many people thought about giving rabbits to children as presents and also the time when more rabbits were abandoned.

She warned people to fully consider the implications of owning a rabbit and has issued a guide for prospective pet owners to prevent more unwanted bunnies this year.