A PROUD Bolton resident has been honoured by her home town university.

Dame Janet Smith DBE was awarded with an honourary degree from the University of Bolton yesterday afternoon.

The Doctor of Law was presented in recognition of the former High Court Judge's outstanding contribution to the legal profession.

The former Bolton School student spoke with pride on receiving the honour.

She said: "It's very nice to come home and be recognised in this way. I don't have a proper degree as I did not go to university. In my day we did bar exams to go into law.

"Each time I come to Bolton there seems to be something different. This area is amazing, it used to be very old fashioned and down at heel but it is now transformed.

"Graduating is like your wedding day, it is the end of one thing and the start of a new life.

"I would say to the students, whatever your reason for choosing a subject once you have got your degree you have got to look at what your contribution and career is going to make to society and to look for the importance and excellence in what you do.

"It is important to work hard, have integrity and strive for excellence."

Dame Smith was called to the bar in 1972 and has held a long and distinguished career, including being appointed a High Court judge in 1992 and was the judge who prepared The Shipman Inquiry, a report on the British serial killer and doctor, Harold Shipman

In 2002 she became the fourth woman to be promoted to the Court of Appeal, a role from which she has since retired.