RIBBLE Valley estate agent Bill Honeywell has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the Honours List.

The 61-year-old has been given the honour for his service to the community in Clitheroe and fund raising for charity.

Now semi-retired, Mr Honeywell from West Bradford joined Clitheroe Round Table in 1984 and was involved in numerous projects until 1991.

He joined the Rotary Club in Clitheroe nine years ago and is currently serving as its president. He has also raised thousands of pounds in charity stunts, including abseiling from Blackpool’s Big One earlier this year.

He said: “I’m very proud to have been given this award.

“The project I’m most proud of was in 2011 when I cycled from my home all the way around the coast. The 4,500-mile-trip took 69 days and I raised £31,000 for cancer charities.

“I’ve been involved in and around the community for many years now and I also raise money for cancer charities and as well those connected to Rotary.

“It’s been hard not to tell everybody about this honour and it’s very humbling to know that someone thinks I’ve been doing some good for the community.”

In 2012, Mr Honeywell was honoured for raising more than £50,000 for cancer charities since beating cancer in 1999.

He received an award from Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Voluntary Support (CVS) after being nominated by the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, which provides care for cancer patients in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

He also climbed all 214 of Wainwright’s Lake District fells in 2009 for charity.