JUBILANT council leader Malcolm Doherty received an extra special Father's Day present -- an OBE for his services to the community in East Lancashire.

The 59-year-old former union official was among the local people who received awards in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

He has known about it for weeks, but had been sworn to secrecy until the official announcement today.

Coun Doherty was born in Kendal and raised in Blackburn and has represented Mill Hill for Blackburn with Darwen Council since 1981.

A former Mayor of Blackburn, he became council leader in 1994 and now spends most of the working week looking after council business at the town hall.

Coun Doherty, of Suffolk Street, enjoys marathon running and theatre, is a parishioner of St Aidan's Church, Mill Hill, and is a keen Blackburn Rovers fan. He is married to Joan, has two grown-up children and recently became a grandfather.

Coun Doherty is also a member of Lancashire Police Authority, the fire authority and East Lancashire Health Authority. He is now looking forward to receiving the OBE at Buckingham Palace in the near future.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted. It is a real honour, especially as it takes into account all of my work in including that with the council, church and for charity. " I was very surprised and have been sworn to secrecy about it for a few weeks. It will certainly make Father's Day special."

An outstanding nursing and managerial career with Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust and its predecessors has been recognised with an MBE for Margaret Yates, of Whinney Lane, Lammack, Blackburn.

She retired from her post as director of nursing/service manager of medical services in September 1993.

Her voluntary work has supported Age Concern, Blackburn Stroke Club, Queen's Park Hospital League of Friends, the Community Health Council, Lancashire Ambulance NHS Trust and the East Lancashire SuperScan Appeal.

Mrs Yates added: "I am very proud. It is a shared honour with all my colleagues. I would also like to thank my husband, Albert, for his support."

Ian Woolley, chairman of the health trust, said: "Margaret Yates has a remarkable record of service to the NHS. Her special interest in developing services for the care of the elderly is a particular achievement.

"Having retired, Margaret is still involved in a voluntary capacity. She thoroughly deserves the recognition she has now received in the honours list." Mrs Elizabeth Guha has been made an MBE for her work to promote equal opportunities across East Lancashire.

Mother-of-two Mrs Guha, 51, of Station Road, Whalley, spent almost 10 years with East Lancashire Training and Enterprise Council where she became equal opportunities manager.

She said: "I am particularly thrilled because it is a formal recognition of the importance of equal opportunities".

"I feel I am accepting it on behalf of ELTEC and its chief executive Mark Price who have been pioneering in their work to put the business case for having a diverse workforce."

Dr Ruth Henig, chairman of Lancashire Police Authority, is also included in the honours list. She becomes a CBE.

And also on the roll of honour is David Alexander Borland, of Blackburn, who has received an OBE for his work with an Inland Revenue agency. He is the deputy North West group valuation officer at Preston Valuation Office and former district valuer at the Burnley office.