AFP - Britain's Olympic heroes added a fresh haul of gongs to their Beijing medals Wednesday in the New Year's Honours List, also notably featuring Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton.

Music stars including rock legend and Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant were also among the hundreds of Britons from celebrities to housewives to be honoured by Queen Elizabeth II.

Track cycling star Chris Hoy, who won three gold medals at the Beijing Games in August, received a knighthood.

"It is, genuinely, just an amazing honour. It's also great for the sport," the 32-year-old told the Press Association news agency in a first reaction. "It's bizarre, it almost seems like it's not real."

In an impressive family double, Hoy -- or Sir Chris as he can now call himself -- can celebrate the top honour with his mother Carol, who became a Member of Order of the British Empire (MBE).

"I was as delighted with my mum getting her MBE as I was with my knighthood," said Hoy, who was crowned the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2008 in mid-December.

Britain's Olympic team won 47 medals in Beijing, led by the cyclists, in the best showing for Britain in a century. They came fourth in the overall medals table.

On Wednesday those awarded new honours included cyclists Edward Clancy, Nicole Cooke, Jason Kenny, Victoria Pendleton and Rebecca Romero; sailors Ben Ainslie, Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Philippa Wilson; athlete Christine Ohuruogu; canoeist Tim Brabants and swimmer Eleanor Simmonds.

Ohuruogu, the only British athlete to win gold in a track and field event at the Beijing Olympics, welcomed her MBE. "I am delighted and honoured to receive this recognition.

"2008 was a great year for me. It is nice to be called the Olympic, world and Commonwealth champion and now to be made an MBE is extra special."

Hamilton, who stormed into the record books in November as the youngest champion in Formula One history, said he felt "humbled" by his award.

"It is the most amazing culmination to what has been quite a year for me," said the 23-year-old. "It is a massive honour and incredible privilege for me to receive an MBE from Her Majesty the Queen," Hamilton said.

Meanwhile best-selling author Terry Pratchett, whose books have sold 55 million copies worldwide and been translated into 33 languages, said he was dumbstruck when he got the call telling him he can call himself Sir Terry.

"I am of course delighted and honoured and, needless to say, flabbergasted," said the author, who has become a campaigner for research into Alzheimer's Disease since being diagnosed with the progressive dementia-like condition.

Led Zeppelin singer Plant, who led the rock giants in a triumphant one-off reunion concert at London's O2 Arena in December 2007, is made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), one step below a knighthood, in the annual honours.

Jazz musician Courtney Pine, also given a CBE, said: "I am deeply moved to be honoured, I never imagined that I would be recognised for playing improvised music in the United Kingdom in this way.

Those on the list, announced by the Cabinet Office, will receive their gongs from Queen Elizabeth in ceremonies in Buckingham Palace in the coming months.

Hoy voiced hope that he could receive his honour at the same time as his mother, a former senior nurse recognised for work on sleep-related illnesses.

"I wouldn't want her day to be overshadowed by me but it would be nice if we were both there together," he said.