CHAIRMAN of Bury Racial Equality Council has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Years Honours List.

And Dr Mohammed Salim (55), believes he is the first person ever from Mirpur Azad Kashmir to receive such an award.

A qualified chemist, he has been chairman of Bury REC since 1997.

The father of five sons, who lives in Heaton Court, Bury, emigrated to the UK with his parents as an eight-year-old and was educated in Nottingham. He graduated from Nottingham University with a PhD in chemistry.

Dr Salim came to Bury in 1976 and worked for several paint firms. He was based in the USA between 1992 and '95 after being appointed vice president of Eccles-based Harcros Chemicals. Later, he worked for Trafford Business Ventures and also undertook voluntary work helping to develop ethnic businesses in and around the Salford area.

Dr Salim is a board member of Bury Citizens Advice Bureau and a lay member of the Industrial Tribunal.

Commenting on his honour, Dr Salim said: "I'm very pleased Her Majesty has decided to award me this, especially as I believe I'm the first person from Mirpur Azad Kashmir to receive such an honour.

"It's also good for Bury. I am the first person from within the town's ethnic community to get an honour."

Awarded an OBE is Bury woman Mrs Marilyn Ann Cooke, HM Inspector of Schools, Office for Standards in Education, for services to education, particularly the improvement to schools.

An MBE also goes to Prestwich woman Mrs Elizabeth Ann Green for services to the Adelphi Ragged School and Lads' Club, Salford.