JOHN WILLIAMS, the leader of Darlington Borough Council for more than 16 years, has become an MBE.

The Labour councillor was elected in 1991 after a career in education. He said: "I am absolutely delighted."

Born in Halewood, Liverpool, he moved to the North-East to attend teaching college.

He spent his teaching career in Darlington and was headteacher at Heathfield School before he moved into politics.

He was elected to Darlington Borough Council in May 1979 and became council leader in 1991.

He is married to Sheila Williams - the headteacher at Whinfield Primary School, Darlington, and the couple have two children. His son, Phillip, was a candidate at borough council elections this year.

Mr Williams is the council's economy portfolio holder and represents the authority on a number of organisations, including the board of Darlington Partnership, the Tees Valley Local Government Association, and the Association of North-East Councils He overcame criticism of Darlington's town centre pedestrianisation scheme, which ran over budget by more than £2.5m, to be re-elected as the member for Bank Top ward at this year's election.

A referendum for an elected mayor for the town, which would have seen his role as leader of the council abolished, was also defeated in October.

Mr Williams, a keen Liverpool football fan, was town mayor in 1994-5.