TWO East Lancashire people were honoured by the Prince Charles yesterday.

Blackburn boxing coach Yaqoob Hussain was awarded an MBE, while charity boss Purnima Tanuku, from Langho, was given the OBE.

Mr Hussain, 56, helped train world champion boxers Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton, and has spent 37 years volunteering. He has been hailed an inspiration.

Mrs Tanuku is the chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association and was awarded the OBE for services to families.

When his award was announced Mr Hussain said: “Volunteers often get absolutely no thanks for the work they do so this is amazing. Getting the MBE is a fantastic honour and I am very proud.”

Mr Hussain, who lives in the Audley area, is the Audley Amateur Boxing Club’s head coach. He has also worked as a referee on a national level and has been involved for decades in the regional amateur boxing set-up.

Mr Hussain is manager at power company EON and married to Sakandra. They have four children and five grandchildren.

Mrs Tanuku is the former managing director of Groundwork Pennine Lancashire and has been in her current role for five years.

At the time of her award she said: “You always read of other people getting these sorts of awards but I never expected to get one myself.”