LEADING figures from sport, education, science, business and entertainment received honorary university degrees yesterday.

Great Britain's most successful Paralympian ever, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, was among five people given an honorary doctorate by Newcastle University.

Tanni, from Redcar, east Cleveland, is one of the most successful British athletes of all time.

She has won 15 medals for Great Britain, 11 of them gold, and broken more than 20 world records.

Also receiving awards were Richard Adams, the founder of Traidcraft and the Out of this World chain of ethical supermarkets, and renowned drama teacher Dorothy Heathcote

They were joined by playwright, Alan Plater, from Jarrow, South Tyneside, and psychologist and language specialist Professor Steven Pinker.

University registrar Dr John Hogan said: "The university seeks to achieve excellence in all its endeavours and to encourage our students to fulfil their true potential.

"Each year, therefore, we honour individuals the university recognises as having achieved excellence in their chosen field.

"Individually, the achievements of the five people being honoured are outstanding.

"Collectively, the talent, initiative, creativity, enthusiasm and, sometimes, sheer hard work they embody are an inspiration to us all."

Dame Tanni, Mr Adams and Mr Plater became Doctors of Civil Law, Ms Heathcote became a Doctor of Letters and Prof Pinker became a Doctor of Science.

University chancellor Lord Patten gave out the degrees.