A COMMUNITY stalwart visited Buckingham Palace to receive his MBE from Prince Charles.

Inayat Omarji was recognised in the New Year’s Honours List for his work in Bolton that involved heading a number of community high-profile community initiatives.

The 41-year-old, born and bred in Blackburn Road, is perhaps best known for spearheading the multi-million pound transformation of All Saints Church in Astley Bridge.

He chaired the committee working with the Churches Conservation Trust to convert the Anglican building into a community centre.

Mr Omarji is currently a practice director at the Orient health centre in Wigan Road and is chief organiser of the Bolton GP Federation.

He started his career in the leisure sector and was a duty manager at the former Water Place centre as well as managing the Horwich Leisure Centre.

He now sits on the board of the Bolton Community Leisure Trust.