TELEVISION news anchor Pam Royle has received an honorary fellowship from a North-East university

The University of Sunderland gave her the honour in recognition of her contribution to news and current affairs broadcasting in the region.

Ms Royle, best known as news anchor of North East Tonight, said: “At ITV we often take undergraduates on work experience from the university, and they speak about Sunderland’s supportive and approachable lecturers.

“I'd like to congratulate all the graduates today on their wonderful achievements, which will lead them to make a truly positive difference to the lives of so many.”

After graduating in English from Newcastle University she taught English and Drama in a Chinese girls’ school in Hong Kong.

On returning to England in 1983 Ms Royle joined Tyne Tees Television as a weather presenter.

She later joined Central Television as a continuity announcer and then worked for ITN World News as a weather and travel correspondent covering Europe.

In 1988, she joined London Weekend Television as part of LWT News, and later as chief anchor for the Friday night magazine programme, Friday Now.

A year later she rejoined Tyne Tees as a main presenter of the nightly news magazine programme, Northern Life.

From 1996, she was co-presenter of Tyne Tees News with Mike Neville, and in 2005 became the main presenter of North East Tonight.

She is patron of The Great North Air Ambulance Service, North East Ladies Day, Durham St John's Ambulance, TFM and Magic 1170's 's Make a Child Smile and The Evening Chronicle's Sunshine Fund.