CARING Jean McEvoy is celebrating after being awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

The Chorley-based probation officer was nominated by former colleagues at Preston Prison for her counselling skills and humane approach to inmates.

Jean's career in the probation service spans 20 years and she moved to Chorley last September after spending more than three fulfilling years in Preston.

She was a member of the team that counselled staff after a prison officer was held captive for 36 hours in November 1995.

Jean also led a pioneering induction programme to help inmates settle in, which included making an introductory video.

Jean, who lives in Newton-le-Willows, was thrilled when she returned from holiday and heard the news of her award.

She said: "I didn't believe it at first, I thought it was a joke. But I'm absolutely over the moon, I feel proud and humble at the same time.

"I work alongside a fabulous team and really I'm accepting this on their behalf."

Since moving to Chorley, Jean has been busy preparing reports for court and overseeing community service and probation orders. She is also a key member of the Chorley Domestic Violence Forum.

She added: "It's a very busy office and everybody here has lots of case work. But we take the same humane approach - hopefully if we get to the root of the problem it will stop people from re-offending."

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