TWO North-East favourites were awarded honorary degrees yesterday.

Veteran television presenter Mike Neville took to the stage to collect an honorary degree, five months after taking ill shortly before he was due to pick up the award in the summer.

The popular Tyne Tees news anchorman joined rugby World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson and hundreds of students from Northumbria University to receive their degrees from Chancellor Lord Stevens at a ceremony at Newcastle City Hall.

Mr Neville said: "I am absolutely delighted to have been honoured in this way.

"In fact, when the university first approached me, I was sure it was a wind-up.

"I have enjoyed entertaining people and keeping the North-East informed throughout my career and it is a privilege to have been recognised by the university's School of Arts and Social Sciences, which does a great job of shaping the creative talent of the future."

Mr Neville has been absent from Tyne Tees screens since he took ill in July - the day before he was originally due to accept the Doctorate of Civil Law.

Newcastle Falcons fly half Jonny Wilkinson, who famously scored the winning drop goal against Australia in the World Cup two years ago, said: "Northumbria has an excellent reputation for nurturing new sporting talent - something I believe in passionately and which I am proud to be associated with."