THE borough council is to look at ways of honouring outstanding members of the community.

Two Tory councillors submitted a motion to last week's full council meeting calling for champion Ellesmere Port fundraiser Billy Birch to be given the freedom of the borough.

Members decided to refer the issue to their standards committee to give them the chance to more fully consider ways of marking the contribution from Billy and others.

One of the schemes under consideration is a special award to those who deserve recognition.

The matter will be considered by the full council on Tuesday, December 5.

Conservative members Ian Ormerod and Gareth Anderson asked for Billy to be given the freedom of the borough as a fitting tribute to the prolific charity worker, who has raised more than £70,000 for the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Billy, of Victoria Road, says his commitment to raising money stems from a desire to repay the good work which helped to save his life after a serious accident on a building site.

He lost his wife to cancer in 1991 and it is also in her memory that he helps hospitals provide equipment.