GERMANY has bestowed one its highest awards on Roger Thornton, a leading figure in Southampton's shipping industry.

The Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany was presented to 57-year-old Mr Thornton at a special ceremony in London.

The award was in recognition of Mr Thornton's work in promoting good relations between Germany and Great Britain as the country's honorary consul in Southampton.

At the ceremony in the German Embassy, he was given the insignia of the award by Ambassador Dr Has-Friedrich von Ploetz on behalf of the Federal President Johannes Rau.

Dr von Ploetz said: "The honour you receive recognises the great services you have rendered in maintaining and developing business and social ties and indeed relations in every field between Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight and Germany throughout 25 years, for which I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude.'' Mr Thornton, manager of Wainwright shipping and forwarding agents based at Orchard Place, was appointed honorary consul for Southampton in 1976.

"He has laid particular emphasis in his consular duties on welcoming and giving assistance where necessary to visiting German ships,'' said the ambassador.

"Mr Thornton provides help to the 50 German firms operating in his area which between them employ 8,000 people, and looks after the interests of some 5,000 German people living locally.''

As honorary consul Mr Thornton also give active support to the 17 twinning links in his region, including Southampton and Rems-Murr-Kreis, Portsmouth and Duisburg, Winchester and Geissen, Andover and Goch, Christchurch and Aalen and Eastleigh and Kornwestheim.

He also set up the City Network linking the ports of Southampton, Bremen, Genoa, Cadiz and Bilbao.