TWO men who have given service to the region have been recognised in the honours list.

Alistair Arkley received a CBE for his services to regeneration in the North-East and Alan Charlton was awarded an MBE for services to the community in Darlington.

Mr Arkley, from Aberdeen, has helped a number of groups in the region.

He came to the Tees Valley in 1985 as managing director of Camerons Brewery. Six years later, he founded Century Inns and is now chairman of New Century Inns.

He has been a board member of regional development agency One NorthEast and a director of Tees Valley Regeneration.

Mr Arkley was also chairman of Tees Valley Partnership for five years until he stepped down earlier this year, and has the same role on the Northern Business Forum.

The 58-year-old father-of-three said: "I am very honoured and delighted."

Mr Charlton, 69, said: "It is a great honour to receive this award. I feel it recognises the 18 years I have worked in the voluntary and charitable sector.

"I am fortunate to have worked with some very dedicated people. This award is very much thanks to those people."

Mr Charlton, who was Darlington's Citizen of the Year in 2004, is senior vice-president of the Rotary Club in the town and chairman of the Friends of Darlington Memorial Hospital.

He has also worked with Darlington Day Care appeal, Music for Darlington, the town's Community Health Council and Darlington Business Venture.

He retired as managing director of Farmway Limited in 1996 after 30 years with the agricultural company.

He has three children and five grandchildren.

Alasdair MacConachie, president of Darlington Rotary Club, said his colleague was a "very deserving winner" who had raised hundreds of thousands of pounds, including a last-minute fundraiser for x-ray machines for Darlington hospital's heart department.