Dickie Bird, 75, was chosen by trustees at Hope Community Village in Hebden Bridge because of his tireless community work.

Barrie Lewis, one of eight trustees, said: "We are delighted. Dickie has spent his life playing and working in cricket and now devotes much of his time to the enrichment of children's lives.

"These are two subjects close to the heart of Hope, many of our boys and girls liking nothing better than a game of cricket in their spare time.

"He is the perfect role model and ambassador for our cause."

Barnsley-born Mr Bird said: "My Dickie Bird Foundation helps underprivileged and disadvantaged children in the UK through sport and Hope Community Village is looking to do the same in Kerala, southern India."

Hope Community Village was established in 1994 by John Veitch, from Hebden Bridge, who regularly visited India and built strong links there through his homewares company JVL.

He wanted to improve facilities for orphans and create better homes for them.

After running the London Marathon and cycling the Indian coast to raise money to buy the home, Hope started with just a handful of children but now looks after more than 40, aged from just a few weeks to 19.

They live in five houses, each managed by a "mother" whose job is to create a family environment for the orphans. The village houses a nursery, which educates around 100 local children as well as the orphans, and a medical centre.

Every penny of sponsorship money goes directly to the charity. It costs £15 a month to sponsor a child.