FIRST Rail Support Managing Director Maurice Duckworth has been awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

As well as his services to displaced railway passengers over many years, Maurice has served for 39 years in the Lancashire Special Constabulary where he holds the rank of Inspector.

Maurice joined First in 2004 to set up First Rail Support and has seen the company grow from strength to strength. The firm, based in Simonstone, near Burnley, Lancashire, provides rail replacement services for many of the UK's largest train companies including Northern Trains, Virgin, First Great Western and First ScotRail.

This is the second award for Maurice this year after he picked up an 'Unsung hero' Award at the UK Coach Awards in London in March for his 'hard work, loyalty and devotion to duty'.Maurice joined the Lancashire Special Constabulary in 1970 and has served the communities of Hyndburn and Ribble Valley for 39 years. He is one of the force's longest serving Special Inspectors and is well known by colleagues and partners in the area, particularly for leading all of the annual town parades.

Nicola Shaw, Director Bus UK, Ireland and Germany, said: “I am sure all who have worked and known Maurice over the years would like to join me in offering our congratulations to him.”

Lancashire Chief Constable Steve Finnigan offered his congratulations and said: "I am absolutely delighted for Maurice. He is a credit to Lancashire Constabulary and his contributions to the police service are second to none.

"I am immensely proud of his achievement and he should be proud of himself His dedication to the force over the years is truly commendable. On behalf of the Constabulary, I would like to warmly congratulate him for this well deserved national honour."