ENGINEER Nigel Thompson from Mildenhall who was knighted in the New Years Honours for his work in helping to rebuild war ravaged Kosovo has been invested with his knighthood by Prince Charles.

Sir Nigel, deputy chairman of the international civil engineering company Arup, was accompanied by his wife, Nicky, and by daughters Phoebe and Nim.

The investiture took place in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace. Sir Nigel said Prince Charles knew about his role in Kosovo where he won contracts for British companies to help with the rebuilding of the country's power, water and other industries.

Sir Nigel, who has lived at Grove House at Stitchcombe for about 30 years and is vice chairman of Mildenhall Parish Council, said: "We had quite a nice chat and he knew all about my work at Arup and in Kosovo.

"I was probably with him for about a minute. He takes longer than the Queen because he likes to chat.

"He wondered if the companies which I had got work for in Kosovo had been paid and if so had they been paid in euros."

Sir Nigel said he was able to reply in the affirmative to both questions.

Sir Nigel, 62, was made a CBE six years ago for his services to the construction industry.