THE New Year brought special honours for Fylde folk, including former Blackpool Transport boss Tony Depledge.

Mr Depledge, who was managing director of Blackpool Transport for 15 years, was awarded the OBE in Monday's New Year's honours list.

He joined Blackpool Transport in 1977 as traffic manager before being appointed managing director in 1986.

He left in September, 2001, and took up his current post of development director of passenger services for Leicester-based transport company Arriva, working on their light rail tram project.

Speaking from his St Annes home he said he felt deeply honoured to be given the OBE and said he was planning to spend New Year celebrating with his wife and family.

He also took the opportunity to pay tribute to his former Fylde Coast colleagues. "The work that people in Blackpool Transport do touches the lives of every single person who works, lives in or visits the resort," he said.

Sharing in the honours celebrations was former director of tourism in Blackpool, Dorothy Naylor. Now North West Tourist Board chief executive, Ms Naylor also received an OBE and said she felt "very proud" to have been recognised in the honours list.

Ms Naylor was appointed regional chief executive in 1989, becoming the first woman to hold that position in England's regional tourism organisations.

She added that the honour recognised the "tireless work" of regional tourist boards, particularly the staff of the North West Tourist Board, without whom she could not perform her national role, she said.

And youth project leader Stuart Sykes has been awarded an MBE for his services to young people in Blackpool.

The retired policeman founded and chairs the Fylde Coast's Windmill Group, a youth development project which helps 14 to 25-year-olds get involved in outdoor activities and work towards Duke of Edinburgh awards.

Other New Year's honours went to Blackpool volunteer Beatrice Law who was awarded an MBE, Blackpool civil servant George McCorkell who received a Knights Bachelor, and BNFL worker Sue Ion who received an OBE.

Mrs Law, 74, was honoured for her work as chairman of the Blackpool branch of the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association (Blesma). She said she cried when she learned of the honour. "I was excited then extremely shocked. Blesma has just been my life," she said.

Mr McCorkell, director of the pensions change programme for the Department for Work and Pensions, said he was also shocked to receive his award, but added he planned to celebrate in style. Now based at Peel Park, he joined the civil service as an executive officer in 1967 and worked at various locations nationwide before settling on the Fylde in 1986.

And 46-year-old Mrs Ion, from Leyland, was honoured for her services to the nuclear industry. The executive director of technology and operations splits her time between three sites including Springfield, near Kirkham.