A BOLTON-born woman has spoken of her pride at picking up an MBE at Buckingham Palace.

Hilda Brownlow, who now lives in Dorset, was handed the honour for her work with youth offenders during a career which has lasted more than 30 years.

Since being made a magistrate 29 years ago, Mrs Brownlow has worked with young people in a variety of professional and voluntary roles in the county, and now sits as deputy chairman of the East Dorset board.

She also helped set up a pilot bail support scheme aimed at stopping people from reoffending, raised more than £320,000 for a youth centre for a troubled housing estate, and is chairman of Dorset's volunteer reading help scheme.

Mrs Brownlow, aged 65, was born at Lee Hall Farm, Westhoughton, and moved to the south coast with her two young children and husband in 1968.

She was invited to the investiture ceremony last month and given the award by the Prince of Wales.

She said: "The ceremony was wonderful. Prince Charles was extremely pleasant and very interested in our work."