EAST Lancashire's World Cup winning rugby union stars led the local list of success in the New Year's honours list.

Every member of the squad which lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in Australia last month is recognised today and coach Clive Woodward is knighted.

The team dominated the awards list after Jonny Wilkinson's last minute drop goal in Sydney clinched the trophy. The outside half was given an OBE.

Blackburn-born centre Will Greenwood, who is a former pupil of Stonyhurst College, Hurst Green, was given an MBE, as were his team mates Kyran Bracken and Blackburn-born Iain Balshaw, who also went to the Ribble Valley school.

Susan Greenwood, Will's mum, said: "What super news. They are all very lucky and we are thrilled.

"The nation has gone crazy about the World Cup so it is no really surprising that they have received these awards.

"But they are very fortunate men to have been given an honour such as this."

Will's father Richard added that the family were "mountainously thrilled."

Other squad members including Northampton's outside half Paul Grayson, who spent a year playing football for Accrington Stanley, were also given MBEs.

Terry Bucknall, of Baxenden , said he was proud to have been awarded an OBE for environmental work.

The 57-year-old, who was born in Darwen, is an environmental protection officer for the Environment Agency, whose job involves looking after rivers in East Lancashire.

He receives his award in recognition of work done in East Lancashire, especially in the River Calder catchment area of Burnley, Accrington, Nelson and Colne.

Before joining the agency when it was formed in 1996, the father of two worked for the National Rivers Authority, and has also worked for Somerset River Authority.

"I found out about the award in the middle of November. It came very much as a shock but I feel very proud. It's nice working in the area you have always lived in.

"It's extremely interesting work and there are very few dull moments.

"I'm quite fortunate that I have worked for more than 30 years in a job I very much enjoy and it allows me to contribute to improving the environment."

Retired radiologist Betty Barker, 73, of Waddington Road, Clitheroe, was given an OBE after spending 14 years working as a volunteer for Oxfam. She said: "I was completely dumbfounded when the letter arrived and read it several times.

"I was delighted because in Clitheroe we have an excellent Oxfam shop with excellent volunteers -- I only wish the whole team could have got an award."

Mavis Butler, 57, who has helped raise more than £1million for a cancer charity, has been awarded an MBE. She is chairman of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Macmillan Cancer Relief Fund-raising Committee.

Elsewhere, Bernard O'Connell, principal and chief executive of Runshaw College in Leyland was made a Knight Bachelor for services to Further Education.

An OBE was given to Chorley-born Catherine Mary Cole, principal of Hereward College of Further Education, Coventry, for services to education for disabled people.

Mrs Alwyn Blockley, of Leyland, was given also given an OBE for services to the unemployed in Lancashire. Major Richard John Courteney-Harris of The Queen's Lancashire Regiment was also given an OBE.