THE director of an organisation which encourages black people to register to vote has been awarded an honorary doctorate.

Simon Woolley, 50, who lives in South Woodford, was presented with the award by the University of Westminster for his work combating racism and promoting equality and human rights.

Mr Woolley is director of the non-party lobby group Operation Black Vote.

He said: “I can only accept this honour by acknowledging and paying tribute to those unsung heroes and heroines at Operation Black Vote, staff at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and other activists fighting for social and racial justice.”

To find out more about Operation Black vote, visit www.obv.org.uk