A BLACKBURN children’s champion is set to visit Buckingham Palace to receive her OBE.

Gladys Rhodes, deputy director of children’s services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, travels to the capital on December 18 with her partner Stephen and children Nick, 17, and Charlotte, 13.

Her OBE was awarded in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June for her services to children’s social care and early years, after 32 years working to help youngsters.

She said: “I’m not quite sure what will happen on the day but I’ll probably end up in tears.

“It’s fantastic to be recognised in this way. I’m so proud of what we have achieved at Blackburn with Darwen.

"I’ll be thinking of everybody who’s played their part in providing opportunities for our children and young people when I receive the insignia.”

Gladys moved to Blackburn from Scotland when she was just four and still lives in the town.

She started work as a nursery nurse aged 18 and later qualified as a social worker.

In 2001 she was appointed to lead a comprehensive review of early years and led the creation of an award-winning flagship service operating via the borough’s network of 13 children’s centres.

Council chief Graham Burgess said: “This is a tribute to the fantastic work which has and is still going on in early years and safeguarding in our borough.

"It is typical of Gladys to share the honour but we all recognise the key role she has played.”