CLIFF Houghton, president of the Rotary Club of Warrington, has received the Paul Harris Fellowship award at a ceremony held at the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Young People's Centre.

The award remembers lawyer Paul Harris who, along with three other businessmen, formed the association which helps those more needy than themselves. It is the greatest honour bestowed by the Rotary Club.

Warrington-born Cliff, who is a production brewer at Burtonwood Brewery, joined the Rotary Club in 1993. As president in 1997, he decided to hold a Rotary beer festival in the town to raise funds for local charities.

The award was presented to Cliff by Sandra Brusby, chief executive of Business Link.

She said: "I am delighted to present this award to Cliff to mark the exceptional work he has done for charity.

"Cliff has worked hard to promote the Rotary and through the beer festivals alone, more than £25,000 has been raised in the past four years."

Cliff lives in Kingswood with his wife Angela.