A DEDICATION ceremony in a revamped garden area has been held to honour an environmental campaigner.

Rishton man Colin Cooper was honoured at a ceremony in the Parker Street garden yesterday.

The garden’s new pillar clock was dedicated to him in recognition of more than a decade spent making the borough greener.

Mr Cooper, a retired personnel manager, was one of the original founding members of the borough’s Prospects environmental charity in 1995 and is an active volunteer on Prospect’s Rishton panel.

The 75-year-old grandfather and father-of-four said he became involved in Prospects so he could do something with other community volunteers.

The public ceremony saw Mr Cooper publicly honoured by Hyndburn Mayor Coun Paul Barton before his family and friends and a crowd of local residents and councillors.

He said: “It was a nice day and people said a lot of nice things.

"It’s great to be honoured but I’ll carry on as normal because there’s plenty to do — the days aren’t long enough.”

Prospects chairman Phil Barwood said: “Colin has been involved in everything that Prospects has achieved from the very beginning.

“He’s stuck with Prospects all the way through and is also a trustee of the foundation.

“He takes a very active interest of how things are managed right across the borough and has spent countless amounts of energy on keeping Hyndburn clean and green.

"He’s a star, frankly.”