What do you do when you miss your special party to collect a medal from the Queen?

You get them to stage it all again – only this time back at your house.

Coun Jimmy Eaton, who has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity, was finally personally presented with a British Empire Medal (BEM) by the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire after he was unable to attend the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List party.

Lord and Lady Shuttleworth bestowed the to his Bacup home at an intimate engagement at his home, where he was surrounded by dozens of his friends and family.

The BEM was awarded to Coun Eaton for his charitable services in Rossendale more than 40 years, 24 of which he has served the community as a councillor.

The 65-year-old said: “It was very emotional for me.

“I got a bit worked up when I gave my speech.

“Lord Shuttleworth presented me with my medal and his wife told everybody why I was being awarded it.”

One of Coun Eaton’s charitable actions cited during the presentation was when he helped to raise the cash for Rossendale Hospice to buy an ambulance costing £33,741 in 2004.

To do this, he completed a triathlon – which involved cycling 88 miles from Bacup to Blackpool and back, then swimming 76 lengths of the pool at Marl Pits Leisure Centre in Rawtenstall and then ran into Bacup.

He said: “I should have gone up to Lancaster for the ceremony, but I was on holiday.

“It was really lovely being able to be there with my close friends and family, but I’m sorry I couldn’t invite everyone I would have liked to because there isn’t room in my house.

“Lord and Lady Shuttleworth were very nice.

“They talked to everyone and stuck around for two hours.

“I’d really like to thank the people of Rossendale for supporting me for 40 years, my friends and family.

“And most importantly my wife, who had to put up with me being away while I was doing it all over the years.”

Jake Berry, Rossendale’s MP, said the honour was very much deserved after Jimmy’s years of service.