RETIRING Runshaw College principal Bernard O'Connell has been awarded the highest honour by the Queen after receiving a knighthood in the New Year's Honours list.

Sir Bernard received the award for services to further education at the Langdale Road college, Leyland, and was the only person from Lancashire to be knighted this time around.

However, the principal of Myerscough College, near Preston, Professor John Moverley, was not overlooked for his work in further education and was appointed an OBE.

CBEs were awarded to Stephen Hill from Preston, the former chief executive for the defence aviation Repair Agency. Annette Vernon, also from Preston, was appointed a CBE for her work as director at the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Leyland woman Alwyn Blockley received an MBE for her work with the unemployed along with James Haines, from Eccleston, for services to the Independent Monitoring Board at Wymott prison, Leyland.

Christopher Ratcliff, from Preston, was also awarded an MBE for services to the Parish Prospect, Preston, along with rugby player Jason Robinson, who lives in Leyland, who received the award for services to the sport.

Another MBE went to Major Richard Courteney-Harris for services to the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, based at Fulwood Barracks, Preston.