From Insider Media: A professional engineering body has bestowed its highest honour on JCB chairman Lord Bamford for his "huge impact" on UK manufacturing.

Lord Bamford has been appointed as an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) at a ceremony in London after more than 50 years in the industry.

He was presented with the Honorary Fellowship along with Ratan N Tata, who was the chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata group, for almost 20 years.

IMechE president Professor Richard Folkson said: "I would like to congratulate Lord Bamford on his appointment as Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

"This is a very well deserved honour, recognising the huge impact Lord Bamford has made to UK manufacturing and innovation. It is thanks to his leadership and vision that JCB is the success it now is and he is one of the strongest and most inspiring ambassadors for British engineering."

Lord Bamford has been chairman of Staffordshire-headquartered JCB since 1975.

Pictured (L-R): IMechE president professor Richard Folkson presents JCB Chairman Lord Bamford with his Honorary Fellowship