The search for citizens to join the ranks of Hyndburn’s honorary freemen is about to begin.

The special honour is the highest tribute that a borough can bestow upon an outstanding citizen.

The two most recent Freedom of the Borough awards were made in 2005 when the late Accrington Pals historian William (Bill) Turner and centenarian disabled sport champion Alice Horne were feted.

The Duke of Lancaster Regiment’s award officially dates to 2006, when it transferred over from the former Queen’s Lancashire Regiment.

Maundy Grange volunteer Dorothy McGregor and Citizens Advice volunteer Eunice Whittaker were both made honorary freemen back in 2001 and former councillor Edward Hill also enjoys The Freedom of the Borough.

The Freedom has been bestowed on four other community stalwarts who are sadly no longer with us – Wallace Haines, Donald McNeill, Louie Pollard and Royal British Legion servant Doris Cassidy, who passed away in April this year.

Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "We have many eminent people who hold the Freedom of the Borough, people like Edward Hill who has given outstanding service to Hyndburn, Dorothy McGregor who does so much good work with Maundy Relief, Eunice Whittaker for her voluntary work, the former Queen’s Lancashire Regiment who exercised their right by marching through Hyndburn drums beating, band playing and colours flying and most recently in 2005 celebrated local centenarian Alice Horne for her long history of charity work."

Dorothy McGregor said: "I felt very humble about winning the award. I think I was one of the first ones to get it when it was relaunched before and I felt very privileged and overawed.

"Usually it’s in the council chamber with the mayor and all the big dignitaries of the town are there, and it’s very formal and quite posh and overawing.

"It gives me the right to lead the artillery up the thoroughfare and to fish in the river, which is all wonderful."

This year’s Freedom of the Borough search, jointly run by Hyndburn Council with the Accrington Observer, will officially be relaunched next month.