A MAN described as the 'heart and soul' of Church has been honoured by the council.

Bernard Scully will be handed a Ruby Award, launched to celebrate 40 years of the council and given to remarkable members of the community.

The 67-year-old former Royal Engineer, who served for more than nine years in the regular Army and for 16 in the Territorial Army, said: "I'm very proud, I'm chuffed, especially because my dad was Coun William Scully in Church."

Mr Scully, who lives with his wife Doreen in Buckingham Grove, is set to be given the award tonight surrounded by friends and family at Accrington Town Hall. (NOVEMBER 20)

Democratic services manager Helen Gee said: "Bernard has been described as the heart and soul of Church.

"He was brought up in the area and has lived there all his life. He and his wife, Doreen, have devoted much of their time to making Church a better place.

"He was involved with the Prospects Foundation to transform an unsightly piece of land behind Church Kirk into a garden and picnic site.

"He has also been instrumental in transforming Gatty Park into a Green Flag park, with the help of the parks team and many volunteers.

"More recently, Bernard founded with others the Hyndburn Heritage Museum, now situated in the Arndale Centre. He is vice-chair of the Hyndburn Heritage and Community Group which runs the museum and which has proved extremely popular in keeping the heritage of the Hyndburn community alive."

Mr Scully said: "There's so much history about industry that went on in Accrington and District, which is of course now Hyndburn. People don't realise. Nori bricks for example were exported all over the world."

Mr Scully said it has yet to be confirmed that the bricks were used in the foundation of the Empire State Building in New York City, but said members at the museum had learned since its opening that they were used to build the Battersea Power Station.

He added: "We need more volunteers at the museum, that's for sure. On one Saturday, we had 412 people coming through the door. Some stayed for ten minutes and some stayed for an hour.

"People are interested, and we can educate them about the borough's history."