Coronation Street stars honoured by Queen

Image caption, Anne Reid played Ken Barlow's first wife, Valerie

Three Coronation Street actresses have been honoured by the Queen in the ITV1 soap's 50th year.

Eileen Derbyshire and Barbara Knox, who play Emily Bishop and Rita Sullivan, have been appointed MBE, along with Anne Reid, who played Valerie Barlow.

Charity worker Alf Hales from Little Lever near Bolton has been made a MBE for his services to charity.

The 89-year-old has raised almost 拢50,000 over the years and said he never expected the honour.

Professor Brian Cox, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, who once played the keyboards for pop group D:Ream, the has been appointed OBE for services to science.

Also in science, Beverley Davies, chief executive of Manchester Science Parks, has been appointed OBE for services to innovation.

Dennis Dunn, Dean and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, has also been given the same honour for services to higher education.