A LONG-STANDING councillor said receiving a medal in recognition of her years of service was among the proudest moments of her life.

Doris Jones has served the people of Middleton St George, near Darlington, since 1983.

On Saturday, she received the British Empire Medal from Sue Snowdon, the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, in a ceremony at Rockliffe Hall Hotel, in Hurworth.

Cllr Jones thanked her husband Brian and council colleague Steve York for their support.

But her biggest vote of thanks was to people in the village who have backed her at the ballot box over the years.

She said: "It went really well, I just kept it a very quiet affair with my family.

"If I had started inviting people, I would have had to invite hundreds of people.

"Getting this award is down to the people of Middleton St George, who have supported me for more than 30 years."

The proudest and saddest moments of Cllr Jones' long career are inter-linked – she cited successfully campaigning for a new school to be built in the village as among her best achievements, after it was gutted by fire in February 2003.

She added: "I am very proud to have been presented with my medal.

"To this day, I do not think I have deserved it, but clearly somebody thinks otherwise."