A WYRE Forest lecturer has been made an OBE for more than 30 years of work as a JP.

Don Manley, 68, has served on the bench in Dudley for 33 years and was given the honour for his services to the administration of justice in the West Midlands.

He has also been closely involved in the community of Heightington, where he lived for 24 years, though he is in the process of moving from the area.

"I was very surprised when I was notified about the award," said Mr Manley. "I thought there must be people better qualified than me who have done more for the community."

Mr Manley, a widower, has two daughters, Jayne, 40, and 37-year-old Gillian, who each have two children, and a son Peter, 47.

He has worked as a history lecturer at Dudley College of Technology. His work for Heightington includes helping to raise money to build the village hall in 1992, chairman and now deputy chairman of Dudley Cancer Support group and a spell as an urban district councillor.