A prominent Diss businessman has been honoured for his charity work and involvement in anti-crime initiatives within the town during the last 20 years.

Alan Rowe, who owns hardware store Albright of Diss, received the Diss Honoured Citizen Award 2012 at a meeting of the town council last Wednesday in recognition of his work with the town's Rotary Club where he was involved in charity initiatives including helping to raise �6,000 through car boot sales over an eight year period.

He was also a member of Diss crime panel for 15 years and treasurer of the panel for 13 years as well as being a member of South Norfolk Crime Joint Partnership Committee from 2006-2009.

The semi-retired locksmith, who has worked in Diss for 27 years, is also on the management committee of the RAF Habbaniya Association for service personnel who served at the Habbaniya station in Iraq.

Accepting the award, he said: 'I am very honoured and pleased that I have been chosen to be your honoured citizen.

'When I look at the list of people who have been here before I wonder what I am doing here, but I feel very honoured by it all, thank you very much.'

The award seeks to acknowledge the efforts of those who have provided voluntary service in the town, whether practical help to others, recreation and community activities or raising funds for charity.