LOCAL historian Ian Dewhirst – who compiles the Keighley News' hugely popular Memory Lane column – has received a coveted accolade.

He is among the winners in this year's Dalesman Awards.

Ian picked-up the WR Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his prolific work as a local historian and public speaker.

He estimates he has given around 4,000 talks during his lifetime.

The presentation took place in a ceremony at Utopia, Broughton Hall.

Host was writer and broadcaster Ian McMillan.

The Dalesman Awards, now in their twelfth year, are aimed at celebrating the people and businesses of Yorkshire.

Dalesman magazine editor Adrian Braddy, who was among the judges, said: "It is a genuinely lovely, positive event and a delight to celebrate all that's great about Yorkshire.

"This year we had some particularly inspirational winners with some remarkable stories to tell.

"Once again, the awards demonstrated the incredible diversity and talent we have here in Yorkshire."

Ian, former reference librarian in the town, has compiled Memory Lane for more than 25 years.

He was awarded the MBE in 1999 and has even had a locomotive named in his honour.