A KINGSWINFORD man who set up a training centre to help young people with special education needs to find work is "elated" at being awarded the MBE.

Andrew Morris, who was brought up in Wall Heath and now lives on Charterfields Estate, launched Timken Vocational Training Centre - now called Wolverhampton Vocational Training - 15 years ago.

The centre, which is based in Blakenhall, Wolverhampton, but also open to youngsters from the Dudley borough and other parts of the Black Country, provides training in construction, vehicle mechanics, painting and decorating and hair and beauty.

Mr Morris, aged 56, who was previously a teacher in design technology at Westcroft Sports and Applied Learning College in Wolverhampton, said: "It was a massive shock when I first heard I had been given an MBE - but I am elated and very proud.

"But I feel more like a football manager because this is as much for everybody else in my team as for myself."

Mr Morris in 2005 won a National Teacher of the Year award and his MBE is for services to special education.

Besides the training centre, he has also set up the Right Track community enterprise company, which provides fencing for social housing.

He said his projects helped disadvantaged people to "get a step up on the ladder" to achieving paid work.