NINE East Lancashire people have been honoured in the Queen's birthday list.

Figures from fashion designers to community workers to doctors have been picked out by the Prime Minister and the Queen. They will all be head to Buckingham Palace later this year to collect their medals.

Bacup-born Betty Jackson, who launched her self-titled fashion house with husband David Cohen, received an MBE in 1987 for services to British industry and imports. This year that will be upgraded to a CBE, for services to the fashion industry.

She is now based in London, and her line Betty Jackson Black is one of the biggest sellers at Debenhams.

Brierfield's Margaret Parker, of Burnley Road, has been involved in victim support services for 14 years, and is now chairman of the service in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale. She will receive an MBE for services to the scheme and to the community.

She also chairs the town's Police and Community Together meetings, Pendle Domestic Violence Partnership and the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale council of volunteers services. She is Brierfield Town Council's longest-serving member.

She said: "I was extremely surprised when I found out - it was the last thing I expected.

"I have always worked in the community. Since I was 17 or 18 I worked with Councillor Margaret Arnold who also lived in Brierfield and also got an MBE. She was a big inspiration for me.

"She died quite a while ago now, but not before she had trained me up to take over from her and I still try to follow her example."

The mother-of-four will take her two daughters with her to the ceremony, and will be an old hand at meeting the Queen by the time she receives her award - she is also attending a garden party at the palace next month.

Sports development manager at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Kathy Hardman will receive an MBE for services to sport.

The former PE teacher from Bradshaw, Bolton, worked as PE co-ordinator in St Cuthbert's and St James's Schools before taking up her current post five years ago.

She has worked with the youth sport trust and all schools in the borough to encourage school children to take part in at least two hours of sporting activity each week.

She said: "This is not just for me, but for all the people I have worked with to encourage children to take up sport. I am absolutely delighted."

Other honours in the area include: A CBE for David Taylor, chairman of Elevate East Lancashire, for services to urban regeneration.

An MBE for Dr Christine Hill, head of health care governance at East Lancashire Primary Care Trust, for services to the NHS An MBE for research fellow Dr Mark Johnston, who studies arboriculture and urban forestry at Myerscough College, Preston, for services to the forestry industry.

An MBE for Dr William McKinlay, former general practitioner at Pendleside Medical Centre, Clitheroe, for his services to health care in East Lancashire.

An MBE for Robert Warren for services to the community in Chorley.