FORMER councillor and Mayor of Pendle, Frank Hartley, was overwhelmed by the praise he received from members of all parties of the council during a special presentation ceremony at Nelson Town Hall.

Mr Hartley, 71, of Smith Street, Nelson, sat quietly listening to all the tributes from members of the Council before being handed a scroll as he was made the first Freeman of the Borough.

He replied by thanking the council and said: "I sat here tonight listening very carefully and you have made me feel I wanted to blush. I was really surprised and shocked when I first heard about this and then I realised this is a great honour to become the first Freeman of the borough of Pendle. This has made history and I am really proud."

Pendle Council's predecessor Nelson Council gave out several Freeman awards but since it became Pendle Council in 1974 no individual honours have been awarded. The council did give the Freedom of the borough to the Queen's Lancashire Regiment last year.

The first words of congratulations for Mr Hartley came from leader of the council, Coun Azhar Ali, who said: "It was unanimous from the start that if anyone was deserving of such an honour it was Coun Hartley. He is still working for the people of Southfield ward and this is in recognition of his work in Southfield and the rest of Pendle.

"He is the one who just got on with the task, not wanting any thanks or form of recognition."

Mr Hartley's 46 years of service to both Nelson Council and Pendle Borough Council were also praised by leader of the Liberal Democrats, Coun Alan Davies, who said: 'He has a 46 -year record that speaks for itself', and also by Coun Frank Clifford who referred to Mr Hartley as the 'role model we should all follow'.

Leader of the conservatives, Coun Roy Clarkson, joked that the honour did not mean Mr Hartley had the key to every door. He said: "People may think Frank's freedom of the borough means that he does not have to pay any community charge but unfortunately he does."