NORTH Wales Post Office campaigner Sir Alan Bates has received his knighthood at Windsor Castle for his services to justice.

Sir Alan was knighted by the Princess Royal having been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours in June.

The former Craig-y-don subpostmaster previously turned down being made an OBE while former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells held on to her CBE award because he said it “felt wrong”.

(Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire) In July,  Sir Alan and fellow North Wales sub-postmaster Noel Thomas were honoured by Bangor University.

Sir Alan also received a civic award from Llandudno Town Council this year.

But calls for him to be knighted after Ms Vennells returned her honour were backed by Number 10 earlier this year.

(Image: Jonathan Brady) Sir Alan said it felt “most unusual” receiving the royal honour.

Mr Bates said: “I accept it gratefully, but not just for myself, but for the whole group, and for everything we’ve all been through.

"If it gives me an extra sort of stick to beat the authorities over the head, so be it – I’ll put it to good use."

The 70-year-old said current financial schemes for those affected are “a mess” and he called on the governing party to set a deadline for completion of March next year.

Sir Alan, who founded the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, is one of more than 550 claimants who have brought legal action against the Post Office.

(Image: Jonathan Brady) Sir Alan was portrayed by actor Toby Jones in the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, with the four-part miniseries helping to renew attention on the scandal.

More than 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted by the company and given criminal convictions between 1999 and 2015, as Fujitsu’s faulty Horizon IT system made it appear as though money was missing at their branches.

A public inquiry into what happened is now in its final stages and due to conclude in November.