TWO luminaries in the nuclear industry in west Cumbria have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Dr Roger Coates was awarded the OBE for services to nuclear safety and radiological protection.

And Dr Graham Fairhall receives the MBE for services to the nuclear energy sector.

Dr Coates, 69, originally from Halifax, has lived at Bouth near Ulverston for 20 years.

He said: “I feel very, very privileged. As well as having that personal honour, it’s also nice to see work in nuclear safety and radiation protection recognised.”

Dr Coates joined the health and safety department at Sellafield in 1975 and worked for British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) for more than 30 years.

Having become acting director of environment, health and safety, for BNFL in 2000, he retired in 2006.

He then took a post with the UN International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, where he helped support the Iraqi government in decommissioning their war-damaged nuclear facilities.

Since 2008, he has been a non-executive director at the Low Level Waste Repository at Drigg.

Meanwhile Dr Fairhall, of Padstow near Whitehaven, has been at the forefront of research and development in the nuclear industry for 30 years.

He was a key player in BNFL's research and development division, where he was latterly chief of technology.

He led the development of waste management plants, particularly at Sellafield.

He established extensive links with laboratories and universities in the UK and around the world, and became chief science and technology officer at the Nuclear National Laboratory from its formation in 2009 until his retirement in 2014.

He said: "It's a great honour, that I'm delighted - and surprised - to receive.

"I am really pleased that research and development has been recognised for the important part it has played in the nuclear industry."