THE Government has been accused of rewarding failure in the New Year's Honours List.

Mirfield Mayor Clr Martyn Bolt called some of the honours "laughable" and said they were not the people's awards as Government has previously said.

He said: "There are some very odd choices for awards.

"It seems that if you are involved with a failing public service you can expect reward.

"Richard Bowker, the former chief executive of the Strategic Rail Authority, has got a CBE - which is just incredible.

"He should come to Mirfield station and see if he still thinks he deserves one. It is mind-boggling that he should be awarded an honour."

Clr Bolt also hit out at the decision to award the former chief executive of the crisis-hit Child Support Agency, Doug Smith, the Order of the Bath - often a stepping stone to a knighthood.

"How can someone at the head of an organisation that has been so badly run get honoured?" he said.

"The annoying thing is that it takes away from those who deserve it, such as the Olympians and people who have worked hard in their respective fields.

"If you go to the Olympics and come last you don't get invited for a day at Buckingham Palace."

Another controversial knighthood was given to John Gieve, the civil servant at the centre of the David Blunkett `'Nannygate" affair.

Defending the choices, a Government spokesman said considerations were made for the whole of someone's career.

On the whole, though, awards for the likes of double gold medal winner Kelly Holmes, rower Matthew Pinsent and ageing rocker Roger Daltry were welcomed by the public, he added.