"NOT in my wildest dreams did I think this could happen." Those were the words uttered by this Southampton pensioner yesterday after his kind-hearted efforts to keep the streets of a Southampton estate tidy were praised by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Peter Andow, a former postie, received his invitation to the Palace after the Daily Echo secretly nominated him when his gardening made headlines earlier this year.

And not even Her Majesty could quite believe it when Peter told her how Southampton City Council sprayed weedkiller on the bulbs he had planted on the grass verges of Millbrook and even demanded a £110 fee for him to continue planting.

Echo readers were outraged when we highlighted Peter's story in June and one 87-year-old woman offered to pay the bill herself.

Just days later council chiefs backed down and Peter was free to carry on with the good work.

And last night at the glitzy event in the Palace Peter's story even seemed to shock the Queen.

Peter said: ''I told her about the bulbs I plant. She couldn't seem to believe the council had sprayed weedkiller on them and when I told her how much they wanted me to pay she seemed even more shocked.''

For 15 years the 71-year-old has been carefully planting bulbs on grass verges near his home in Cherwell Crescent.

And last night his green-fingered kindness was rewarded when he travelled by limousine to meet the Queen at a Christmas reception at Buckingham Palace.

The party sought to recognise "people who have made a significant recent contribution to national life".

Last night, Peter and friend Joan Roberts, 50, also from Millbrook, travelled to London in style thanks to New Forest Limousines - in a chauffeur-driven, 30ft limo complete with TV, DVD player and radio.

Peter, who first planted bulbs to please his wife Elsa before her death 13 years ago, said he was "humbled" by the occasion, where he spoke to the Queen, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex.

Peter said: "I hadn't been able to sleep or eat properly for days before the event. I'd been so nervous, I just didn't know what to expect.

"When the invitation came through the door I couldn't believe my eyes - I thought the likes of me don't do things like this."

Peter and Joan, who met at Peter's Millbrook allotment, were joined at the event by people from across the UK, who had all been nominated for good work in the communities where they live. They spent two hours at the palace where they were served drinks and food - including Brussel Sprouts wrapped in mashed potato - from silver platters.

Peter said: "The Queen was making her way around the rooms and she started walking towards us. I gave her a big smile and Joan said 'Hello'. I told her about my mother Elsie who was a glove maker in Netley Marsh and made the gloves that were worn by the late Duke of Wellington when he held a canopy over the Queen at her Coronation.

"She couldn't believe it and she raised her eyes and said 'Well I never.' She had a big smile on her face.

"I also told her and the Princess that I cut the verges on Sunday and collected the cuttings for compost on next year's potatoes - I said the council grows the grass and I use it on the allotment. They all seemed to think that was quite funny.

"It really was the most wonderful evening - it was absolutely brilliant. I will remember it for the rest of my days."