AN active member of a village community has been named citizen of the year for 2005 by the Rotary Club of Newton Aycliffe.

Alan Oates, of Durham Road, Aycliffe Village, was commended by the group for services to the community and local environment.

The 76-year-old said: "I was shocked, friends got me along to a carol service under false pretences and I ended up being presented with this award.

"It is very nice to know that what I've done has been recognised and appreciated but that isn't why I do it, I just like being active and supporting the area."

Mr Oates, who used to run a car sales garage in Chilton, has been a member of the village hall committee, a church warden at St Andrew's Church and a governor at Aycliffe Village Primary School for five years.

He has also run the Aycliffe Tidy Village Group for nine years - seeing the village land three consecutive Northumbria In Bloom prizes and a bronze award from Britain in Bloom in 2003.

He said: "I moved to Aycliffe about 18 years ago with my late wife Nancy and have always been involved with local projects. The Tidy Village Group has been important to me.

"I've enjoyed planting up containers, keeping the place tidy and encouraging school children to take pride in their neighbourhood and show an interest in gardening."