A special thank-you to Valerie.

A WOMAN who has spent a lifetime helping sick people in Bangladesh has been honoured in Coventry.

Valerie Taylor, 57, was at The Bangladesh Centre, in George Eliot Road, Foleshill, during a visit to Britain to raise money for medical centres she has founded.

Ms Taylor, who has been adopted as a Bangladeshi citizen, was made an OBE by the Queen for her work which has included setting up a hospital in Dhaka, and founding medical and educational facilities across the country.

Motasem Ali, 62, chairman of the centre - which represents up to 5,000 Bangladeshis living in Coventry - said: "She's helped thousands of people in our country and the work she's done has been immense - she is like our Mother Teresa."

CAPTION(S):

HONOUR: Ms Taylor with Ashraf Uddin, assistant high commissioner for Bangladesh and Mr Ali