A MAN who has spent years helping to revive a North-East community collected his MBE in his hometown.

Bill Cook turned down an invitation to Buckingham Palace and instead chose to collect his MBE from Lord Lieutenant Sir Paul Nicholson at Darlington Town Hall - so his friends and family could attend the ceremony. On Monday, Mr Cook, fighting off illness, proudly collected the honour in front of about 25 colleagues and family.

In his 70s, he has lived in Firthmoor for more than 40 years, and has worked to secure millions of pounds for regeneration and community projects, including a £1.3m community centre. He began volunteering in the community about 15 years ago and in 2001 was named Darlington's citizen of the year.