MORTON chairman Douglas Rae and Inverclyde Council chief executive John Mundell have received OBEs in the Queen's Birthday honours, it has been announced.

Mr Rae, managing director of Greenock confectionery firm Golden Casket, has been recognised for services to business and the community.

Meanwhile Municipal Buildings boss Mr Mundell is being honoured for his services to local government.

Mr Rae has built up his Golden Casket firm from scratch to become one of the area's best business success stories, a key employer and Scottish exporter which sells popular household names like its 'Millions' brand.

But he is undoubtedly best known for his involvement at Cappielow. Having served as a director on the board during the 1990s, he returned in 2001 to put a major investment in to rescue it from the ashes of the disastrous Hugh Scott era and prevent it from going bust. Taking the club out of administration and stabilising it, he has overseen three league title wins and Morton have re-established themselves in the second tier of Scottish football, finishing a credible fifth in the Championship last season.

Council boss Mr Mundell has run the local authority for the last 10 years and is widely credited for overseeing a positive transformation in its performance. When he took over it had been branded one of the worst councils in the country but a management shakeup, new structure and his leadership have turned its fortunes around. Despite a perilous cash position due to cuts, the council has been praised for its resilient financial stewardship. Mr Mundell has also overseen delivery of the Labour administration's massive investment in the area's schools estate and new leisure facilities across the district.

Mr Mundell recently announced his retirement and is due to leave in the next couple of months. Interviews for his replacement are under way but council insiders say that he will be a hard act to follow in a tough and uncertain public sector climate.

Meanwhile local doctor Euphemia Rogers of Gourock is also named on the honours list. She is to receive the British Empire Medal for services to the community in Inverclyde.