A local authority has voted to name a former police house after one of its commissioners.

Onchan Commissioners voted unanimously to rename numbers 1-3 Elm Drive after Derek Crellin, who has served on the local authority since 2000.

The commissioners bought the house for £295,000 after the station closed in 2012 following cuts to the police budget and have since converted it into local authority housing with four flats and a maisonette.

At a meeting held earlier this month in the section that the public were not allowed to attend , commissioner Chris Quirk suggested the name change to Derek Crellin House ’in recognition of his service to the community’.

He was seconded by Anthony Allen and the motion was passed unanimously by the members present.

So who is Derek Crellin?

Mr Crellin grew up in the village, attending Onchan Primary School before moving onto the former Douglas High School for Boys.

After a period working in Douglas, he joined the police in 1969 and was posted to Onchan in 1977.

Following his promotion to sergeant in 1986 Mr Crellin was moved back to Douglas. However the following year he returned to Onchan and remained as sergeant in the village until his retirement in 2000.

Prior to joining the police he was actively involved as a member of the Onchan Crown Green Bowling Club, Onchan Fur and Feather Society and played for Onchan AFC.

Mr Crellin thanked members for their support and for the recognition of his service to Onchan. A spokesman for the commissioners said the proposal would now be costed and would return to the board for approval.

They added that the authority will use the opportunity to explore how naming accolades and memorials are made and to develop a consistent policy.