PENDLE council is to reward four of its stalwarts for 100 years of collective service with its highest honours.

Former leader John David and ex-Chief Executive Stephen Barnes will be given the ‘Freedom of the Borough’ on Thursday.

Former councillors George Adam and Pauline McCormick will be named ‘Honorary Aldermen of Pendle’, the first time the council has granted this award.

Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour a council can bestow on ‘persons of distinction and persons who have rendered eminent services’.

The rare awards will be made at a Special Meeting of Pendle Council on Thursday at 6pm in the Council Chamber in Nelson Town Hall.

Mr David was first elected in 1986, serving the Old Laund Booth ward for 28 years until his retirement in 2014.

He was mayor in 1992/3 and leader between 2008 and 2010.

Mr Barnes was an officer with Pendle Council since its formation in 1974, becoming chief executive in 1993, retiring after 22 years in March.

Mr David said: “It’s a rare accolade and I was absolutely delighted.”

Mr Barnes said: “It has been a real privilege to serve Pendle Council as both its borough treasurer and chief executive.

“To receive the Freedom of the Borough leaves me truly delighted.

“To be among only three local authority chief executives in the country to be granted the honour is simply wonderful.”

Pauline McCormick was first elected as a Conservative councillor in 1986, representing Reedley for 22 years, and was mayor of Pendle in 2002/03.

She said: “It’s a lovely thing to receive and makes me feel appreciated.”

George Adam served Walverden as Labour councillor between 2000 and 2010, and was mayor in 2006/07.

He said: “It’s a great honour. It means a lot to me personally since I came from outside of the borough and was accepted in Pendle. I was lucky to have been able to retire early and have dedicated much of my retired life to helping people.”

Current Pendle council leader Joe Cooney said: “We’re incredibly fortunate to have had such dedicated people working hard to make Pendle a better place for the people who live and work here.

“Collectively, they have clocked up over 100 years of service to Pendle.”

Mr Adam was a Lancashire county councillor between 2009 and 2013, and chairman of Nelson Town Council between 2008-11.