TWO of Wirral's most distinguished citizens were granted the freedom of the borough at a special town hall ceremony.

The late Lord Chan of Oxton and the Rt Rev David Urquhart, Bishop of Birkenhead, became only the fourth and fifth people to be granted the honour in recognition of outstanding service to Wirral.

Council chief executive Steve Maddox said: "Both Lord Chan and the Rt Rev David Urquhart have shown, time and time, again, the qualities for which the honour is designed and are worthy recipients.

"To be granted the freedom of Wirral is to be recognised for making an exemplary contribution to the borough."

Lord Chan, born Michael Chew Koon Chan in Singapore, died in January aged 65. He was the House of Lords' only peer of Chinese origin, having been named as a "people's peer" in 2001. He was awarded an MBE for services to medicine in 1991. Locally he was a long-serving lecturer and consultant at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, vice president of Wirral Multicultural Organisation and an outstanding member of Liverpool's Chinese Christian Community.

David Urquhart was appointed Bishop of Liverpool in 2001 and became chairman of the local strategic partnership a year later. He was appointed Bishop of Birmingham earlier this year.

Mr Maddox said: "His appointment to the Birmingham post is a real tribute to the mark which Bishop David has made within the Church of England, but it will be a very sad loss to Wirral. Although his period of time with us has been relatively short I have no hesitation is saying his contribution to civic life in the borough has been singular."