OSCAR-WINNING songwriter Sir Tim Rice was honoured yesterday by a North-East university - cementing his ties with the region.

The long-time Sunderland football fan was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters by the University of Sunderland in recognition of his outstanding contribution to musical theatre, film and publishing.

Sir Tim said: "It is very kind of them to honour me in this way. I have no connection with the area other than supporting Sunderland, which I chose when I was a boy at school.

"Most of the others supported teams like Manchester United, but I wanted a team no one else had and liked the name Sunderland."

Sir Tim, who attends the Stadium of Light as often as he can, said: "Lord Puttman, Chancellor of the university, is a friend of mine and is involved in the Sunderland AFC Foundation, of which I am a trustee.

"This honour is a nice way to cement my links with the city."

The 62-year-old is known throughout the world for his partnership with Andrew Lloyd-Webber, creating such classics as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.

In the Nineties, he worked primarily with Disney, contributing lyrics to the movies Aladdin and The Lion King, which featured music by Sir Elton John and Hans Zimmer.

He is now reworking King David, an operatic musical he has written with Alan Menken, and is writing new stage and a screen version of Chess.

Sir Tim lives in London and Cornwall, where he has his own cricket team - The Heartaches. His work has won numerous awards, including 12 Ivor Novello awards, four Tonys and three Oscars.

* Hospital technician Ken Knight also received an award from the University of Sunderland, for his services to the health profession.

Mr Knight, who also graduated from the University of Sunderland yesterday, played a key part in developing a training programme at City Hospitals Sunderland, which has had a major impact on staffing levels for the hospital's new operating theatres.