TWO top North-west actors and The University of Bolton's first Vice Chancellor are to be awarded honorary doctorates by the university this month for their outstanding achievements.

Mollie Temple, who received a CBE in the Queen's Birthday honours two weeks ago, is being given the honour for her contribution to education.

She will be joined at a ceremony by Rochdale-born Anna Friel, the actress who made her name in TV soap Brookside, and Bernard Hill, who is best know for his performance as Yosser Hughes in Boys from the Black Stuff.

They are among eight honorary doctorates to be awarded to people from the arts, construction and education.

Ms Temple was instrumental in obtaining University Title for the former Bolton Institute in 2004. Prior to becoming Principal of Bolton Institute, she lectured at Leeds Metropolitan University and Sunderland University.

Anna Friel is to be honoured for her contribution to the performing arts. She first came to national attention in Brookside, when she played Beth Jordache and created British TV history with the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss. Her credits include appearing on Broadway in the play Closer and in the films Rogue Trader, The Land Girls and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

There is also an honorary doctorate for Bernard Hill, whose famous Liverpudlian role as Yosser Hughes captured the nation's hearts in the 1980s TV series Boys from the Black Stuff. He has also appeared as King Theoden in The Lord of the Rings films and as Joe Bradshaw in Shirley Valentine.

Melvin Burgess is honoured for his contribution to the arts. He is regarded as the godfather of young adult fiction, writing novels dealing with subjects such as addiction, homelessness and sex.

Swinton-born Arthur Ridings, a former external examiner and adviser to the university's teacher education courses, is honoured for his contribution to education.

The Professor of English at the University of Glasgow, Michael Schmidt, is being honoured for his contribution to the arts. He founded Carcanet Press, an important publishing house of poetry, prose and criticism.

Allan Ashworth's doctorate is for his achievements within education for the built environment sector. He has written several textbooks which are recommended reading on survey and construction courses throughout the world and was a lecturer at the Bolton Institute of Technology in the 1970s.

Brian Crossley, who has been involved with the education and training of civil engineers for many years, is honoured for his achievements in education. He was the first external examiner for the university's Built Environment department's BSc (Hons) Construction management degree when it began in 1992.

The honorary doctorates will be bestowed on Thursday, July 13, and Friday, July 14, by the Vice Chancellor, Dr George Homes, at the university's degree congregation ceremonies. This is the first year the university is awarding doctorates instead of fellowships. All the doctorates are nominated by university staff and selected by a committee.