A businessman who has helped raise more than £40m for charity says he is humbled to be honoured for his work.

Simon Albert, 42, of Manor Drive, Whetstone, received a British Citizens Award at a ceremony in the Palace of Westminster for the work of his company Charity Challenge.

Set up 16 years ago, the business helps charities raise money by organising trips round the world, and has helped 1,700 UK, Irish and Canadian charities raise more than £40m.

Mr Albert, the co-founder and director, has donated more than £500,000 from the company to community projects in the UK, and developing countries to fund education, sanitation and environmental projects.

Based in Finchley Central, it employs 15 people in the UK and 50 around the world.

Mr Albert, who lives in Whetstone with his wife Lianne Kolirin and his three sons, aged six, nine and 11, said his passion for travel and charity work led him to set the business up.

Speaking about the ceremony last week, which saw 27 other people receive the award, he said: “It was great to find out I was nominated, and to go into the House of Lords and Westminster Palace. I love history, so to walk in the doors where the country’s been governed for 500 years was amazing.

“The ceremony was humbling. It was nice to be considered worthy alongside so many great people.”