THE hard work and dedication of two Bromsgrove residents has been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

A Tardebigge professor has been awarded an OBE while a Fockbury-based training boss has collected a CBE.

Christine Pascal, of Hewell Lane, is the professor who strove to put early year's education on the political map.

She is a director of the Centre for Research in Early Childhood, at University College Worcester, and has spent years trying to improve the quality of provision for young children.

Colleague and centre co-ordinator Fiona Ramsden said the group's work entailed going out to train practitioners themselves.

She added: "We visit play groups, nurseries and schools to try and improve the quality of provision."

The team also evaluates the Government's Early Excellence Centre programme.

Fockbury-based Keith Hirst, a former chairman of a Black Country Training and Enterprise Council, has been awarded a CBE.

He was chairman of Sandwell TEC but the body ceased to exist earlier this year when it was replaced by the Learning and Skills Council for the Black Country.

Mr Hirst, who is a council member of the Learning and Skills Council, was honoured for his services to education, training and enterprise.