THE Leader of Lancashire County Council has been awarded the CBE in the New Year's Honours.

Councillor Hazel Harding, who has led the council since the elections in 2001, receives the honour for her services to local government.

Cllr Harding, who is a trained journalist and worked on newspapers in Lancashire and Devon, was born in Heysham and educated in Lancaster.

She says: "I'm absolutely delighted to receive this honour it's certainly not something I was expecting.

"2005 was a good year for the county council and we recently received a four out of four' rating from the Audit Commission. Receiving the CBE is certainly a great way to round off the year."

And she adds: "I did not become a politician for fame or fortune but it is very nice when the hard work you put in is recognised in this way."

First elected to Lancashire County Council in 1985, representing Rossendale West, Cllr Harding has served on all major committees and was chairman of the council in 1997/98.

She was also the non-executive director of Burnley Health Care (NHS) Trust and is a board member for the Lancashire Learning and Skills Council.

The mother of four daughters, she also has two grandchildren.