THE judge who led The Shipman Inquiry is to be honoured by the University of Bolton.

Bolton School old girl Dame Janet Smith, who became one of the country's leading and most high profile judges, will "graduate" from the University of Bolton alongside hundreds of celebrating students.

The retired High Court judge, who lives in Bolton, is best known as the judge who prepared The Shipman Inquiry, a report on the patient murders committed by Hyde GP Harold Shipman.

She was appointed by the BBC to lead the inquiry into the sexual abuse committed by Jimmy Savile whilst employed by the broadcast organisation.

Former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police will also be recognised at next week's graduation ceremonies.

The two are among nine inspirational people to be honoured alongside students at this year's degree congregation ceremonies on July 13, 14 and 15, which for the first time in the university's history will be held on campus in a bespoke pavilion, constructed for graduation on The Sward, a new open space between the Chancellor’s and Stoller buildings.

This year the ceremony will also celebrate the expansion of the university into the town centre.

Vice Chancellor of the University of Bolton, Professor George E Holmes, said: "We are delighted to bring graduation home this year, giving graduates, their families and friends a very special day.

"Among those celebrating achievements this year will be the first students to graduate from our motorsport degrees, exciting profession-driven courses which are unique in the sector and are flourishing.

"The plans for the brand-new, purpose-built National Centre for Motorsport Engineering (NCME) are well under way.

"The NCME is set to be the UK’s leading university provision for motorsport engineering, offering industry-driven and student-led academic programmes aimed at forming outstanding engineers who will shape the automotive industry in years to come.

"The centre will be a part of the new Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) building, to be situated on Deane Road, next to Bolton College.

"This £13 million investment will provide first-class facilities in an environment that is unrivalled in academia."

He added: "The plans to extend the university into the heart of Bolton town centre continue apace.

"University House is due to open in the iconic Le Mans Crescent in August and the university is very pleased to announce that the new designs for the proposed £40 million student village on Cheadle Square have now been accepted in principle, by the university’s partner, Bolton Council.

"This is an extremely exciting phase in the ongoing development of the University of Bolton."