ROCK star Sting will be nominated for his home town's highest honour.

Newcastle Council is to be asked to enrol Sting -real name Gordon Sumner -as an honorary freeman of the city.

The milkman's son from Wallsend, North Tyneside, rose to fame when he gave up teaching and joined rock band the Police.

He later became a solo artist and during his 25-year career, has sold more than 100 million albums and singles and has received ten Grammy music awards.

He is well-known for campaigning to save the rain forests and his work for Amnesty International, and was made a CBE by the Queen last year.

Now 53, he is married with children and lives in Wiltshire.

Meanwhile, councillors will formally approve plans to invite former Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson to become an honorary freeman of the city at a meeting on Wednesday.

The move is in recognition of his outstanding football career, his role as an ambassador for the North-East and Newcastle, and his contribution to the culture and life of the city.

If he accepts, a ceremony will be held next year.

The move to make Sting an honorary freeman comes from Labour councillor John Stokel-Walker, and is the first following plans to overhaul the city's honours system.

Coun Stokel-Walker will nominate Sting at Wednesday's meeting, but it will be referred to a new panel that will vet all nominations.

The change came because the council's new Liberal Democrat leaders were unhappy at the way the system has operated in the past.

Previously, suggestions went to the council leader, who made recommendations to the council, but the LibDems said the system was never clear.

Coun Stokel-Walker said: "I believe Gordon Sumner deserves the freedom of the city in recognition of his long and outstanding international music career, his pride in his Geordie roots, his role as an ambassador for the North-East and his commitment to charitable works."

Councillor Anita Lower, the LibDem executive member in charge of overhauling the honours system, said the changes would go to a meeting of the constitutional committee on Wednesday for approval.

She said: "A formal appointment procedure will be put in place. Every nomination will go to the panel, who will listen to the reasons then submit their recommendations to the council.

"The panel will be selective to stop the awards becoming devalued. The person or organisation nominated must have a local connection and have rendered eminent service to the city."

Since 1886, the council has created 84 honorary freeman including, recently, Newcastle United skipper Alan Shearer, Newcastle Falcons and Rugby World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson, and athlete Jonathan Edwards.

Honorary freemen enjoy no privileges, but receive a framed scroll and have their name engraved on a wall at the civic centre.