ONE of Northallerton's best-known faces has received a rare honour.

Kenneth Hird was installed as an honorary citizen of the town in a ceremony last Wednesday, becoming one of just a handful of people to be accorded the town council award.

And Mr Hird, 83, said: "I am highly delighted and not a little flattered. It is a recognition of what my family has done for the town over the last 100 years or so."

Family and friends came from all over the country to be at the town hall ceremony.

For many years, the family owned Hird's Chemists - now Moss the Chemist - and took part in almost every aspect of Northallerton life.

They were among those responsible for setting up the Applegarth by donating land, and Mr Hird's father, George Frederick, was a JP.

He himself was council chairman, a long-serving councillor, founder chairman of Round Table, a churchwarden and president of the Rotary Club of which he is still a member.

These days, Mr Hird does a lot of work for the talking newspaper for the blind scheme. "We have always done what we can for the town," he said. "But I did not expect this and it was a wonderful surprise."

Mayor Jack Dobson said: "Northallerton has a lot to thank the Hirds for. They are famous in the town and in their day were known as one of the best employers around."

Since 1974 only five honorary citizens, who have to be put forward by the public for the honour, have been installed.