A WINNER of one of this year's Lancashire Evening Telegraph Grimewatch awards has had his work recognised by Clayton-le-Moors and Altham area Council.

Ian Leaver, 60, was presented with a certificate at the area council's first meeting held at Clayton Civic Hall, Pickup Street, in recognition of his work in the community.

Mr Leaver, a key member of the St Mary's RIP Group, which has been working since 1994 to restore the neglected St Mary's burial ground at Clayton-le-Moors, took the prestigious Grimebuster of the Year title earlier this year.

Area councillor Janet Storey said: "The area council wants to recognise the hard work that is put in by people in the community.

"Ian Leaver has done an awful lot for Clayton and Altham.

"He is a member of the Prospects Forum and Prospects Foundation, he has set up schemes at All Saints and he is also very active in St Mary's Church were he organises fund-raisers.

"He recently set up a fund in aid of his wife who died of breast cancer.

"He suffers with his health but he remains active."

Mr Leaver, of Woodlands Drive, Clayton-le-Moors, paid tribute to his wife, Marie, who died earlier this year, aged 61.

He said: "Particularly after this year it is a singular honour to receive an award like this but it isn't an award in the singular. It is an award in generality.

"Behind me and at the side of me and in front of me are many many other people who haven't sat on their hands.

"They have rolled their sleeves up and got on with the job of making Clayton a well respected community and I will continue to make sure it is."