FOR more than 50 years, Douglas Foster has been at Civic Sundays and Remembrance Sundays in Horwich.

And to reward the 88-year-old for his dedication, he was presented with a civic medal, along with cricket club stalwart Ken Burns.

Mr Foster, of Old Lord's Crescent, Horwich, started helping in the parades while he was a special constable, a job he did for 27 years.

He continued after he left the specials. "I still give the orders!" said Mr Foster, who worked at the old locomotive works in the town for 45 years.

His son and daughter-in-law travelled from Warton to see Mr Foster receive his medal from town Mayor Kevan Helsby.

There was also a medal for Mr Burns, who worked for the RMI cricket club for more than 40 years.

Mr Burns, who was accompanied by his wife, Maureen, to the ceremony, has been an enthusiastic spectator and official. He spends many hours in the summer working as a voluntary groundsman.

He ferries the junior teams around Lancashire and still manages to find time to raise much needed cash for the club. He received his meal from mayor-elect Stephen Rock.