ONE of County Durham's best known citizens has talked of his joy at meeting the Queen to collect his MBE.

"She was delightful and really appeared to be interested in what was going on in our county," said former chairman of Durham County Council, alderman Joe Walker.

Mr Walker received his MBE for his work as a councillor on the now defunct Stanley Urban District Council, Derwentside District Council and then the county council for a total 34 years.

Mr Walker picked up his MBE from the Queen on Wednesday.

He said: "Obviously you only have a small chat but the Queen seemed especially interested in the work we had done when I was chairman of the county's education department in coming up with innovative ideas to stop bullying in schools."

Mr Walker was born and bred in Dipton, North-West Durham. His promising career in football ended when he sustained a serious leg injury which left him with disabilities. That led him to work for the rights of disabled people.

He also received the MBE for working with the Derwentside Industrial Development Agency established to create jobs after the Consett Steelworks closed down.

A committed Christian and life-long socialist he was a magistrate for 32 years, former chairman for Derwentside District Council, founder member of the Leazes Youth Club, founder member of Dipton Community Centre and a governor of Lanchester St Bede's Comprehensive School, Tanfield Comprehensive School, Derwentside College and Houghall Agricultural College. He was also a board member of the former North-West Durham Hospital Committee.

Formerly employed by the National Coal Board he was married to Sandra who died last year and has three children and a number of grandchildren.