MANCHESTER peer Lord Morris is to receive a distinguished award for his tireless work helping the disabled.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow have offered the former Wythenshawe MP fellowship of their "Honoris Causa".

This can be conferred by the college on any distinguished person and, in Lord Morris' case it is for his pioneering disability legislation.

The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons' Act, marking its 40th anniversary, has helped disabled people all over the world and was responsible, amongst a number of things, for introducing ramps to public buildings and the blue badge car scheme which now has 2.3million members.

The award will be presented to Lord Alf next March and he told the MEN: "It's an honour I could not have expected and I am deeply moved to receive it."

Before peers rose for the Christmas recess, Lord Morris raised the issue of Gulf War illnesses, another of his long-term campaigns. He pointed out that the US were spending £270million on research into the mystery illnesses compared with just £8million in Britain.

And he pointed out that the new President Barack Obama had also promised to be supportive in tracking down the cause of Gulf War illnesses and to consider compensation for veterans.