The final four heroes who have been bestowed the Freedom of the Borough have been named.

They are Nigel Berry, Jack Barrett, Roy Lockwood and Joan Pilkington.

Seventeen outstanding nominations were made late last year for the honour.

The standard was so high that the judging panel decided to make eight awards, taking the total number of surviving freemen in Hyndburn to 12.

The first four new awards were made last December to Ken Hargreaves MBE, Irene Barnes, Winifred Bridges and Len Dickinson – with the latest tranche to be confirmed at a special council meeting and Royal Wedding celebration on April 30.

Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "I think it’s great that we are able to honour four more people and I’m pleased that we are doing it as part of our celebrations for the Royal Wedding.

"One of the problems we have in Hyndburn is we are spoiled for choice for people deserving of these awards.

"That’s why we did it in two stages. We will have eight new freemen of the borough of Hyndburn, which is wonderful."

Observer editor and fellow panel judge, Gareth Tidman, said: "As with the previous four Freedom of the Borough awards made last year, all of these Hyndburn residents were exceptional candidates who stood out as deserving of the accolade. Many congratulations to them all."

JACK Barrett, of West Crescent, Accrington, is a founder member of Accrington Stanley.

He is credited with saving and re-forming the club as it faced extinction in 1968, after delivering a stirring speech.

A Royal Navy war veteran Jack, 86, served for 10 years as Stanley committee secretary and was made life member of the club in 1978.

He also helped build its current home at the Crown Ground using railway sleepers for terracing.

He said: "There were a few volunteers and we did all up there seven days a week, every time we got a bit of spare time.

"You wouldn’t have believed you could ever play football up there if you had seen it at the beginning."

"About the award, Jack added: "I don’t know what it's all about, but I’m quite pleased about it. It’s a nice feeling, but I take it with a pinch of salt."

JOAN Pilkington, of Princess Street, Accrington, has worked tirelessly for west Accrington for 15 years on the residents’ association.

She fought hard to secure government housing renewal money to transform the area’s housing stock, as well as meeting the everyday needs of residents.

Joan said: "I retired at 60 from the civil service and then took up my second career championing west Accrington.

"I’m still active in lots of things. I think it's lovely and it’s nice to have some recognition after 15 years of plodding – because it is a plod really. It has come totally out of the blue."

ROY Lockwood, of Foxhill Bank Brow, is a former Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer who is a case worker for the Royal British Legion in Accrington, Church and Oswaldtwistle.

Through his efforts – and previously those of late wife and former Hyndburn councillor Jean – he has helped ex-servicemen and women, who know him as a Good Samaritan.

He received several nominations for the award, all citing his ‘tireless dedication’.

Roy, 74, said: "It’s an all year round thing, 365 days a year. But I am an ideal person for this because I can put my time into it. It’s a labour of love.

"It’s an honour to be nominated and it’s quite a surprise, but I never court anything like that."

NIGEL Berry, of Sutton Crescent, Huncoat, worked as a gardener in the borough for 40 years, starting as an apprentice at the age of 16 in 1970.

He was nominated for his ‘massive contribution to keeping the borough’s green spaces clean and tidy, serving the local community with distinction’. Nigel, 56, said: "I wasn’t sure whether to accept the award but I don’t know how many people have had 40 years working for the parks and it is an honour. "