THE chief executive of East Coast train operator GNER was honoured by a North-East university yesterday.

Christopher Garnett received an honorary Degree in Civil Law from Northumbria University at a ceremony at Newcastle City Hall.

Mr Garnett, who did not go to university, but whose great grandfather was a principal at Durham University's Armstrong College, said: "I am delighted with this unexpected, but very welcome, honour. GNER is privileged to run services to the North-East, the cradle of Britain's railways."

Mr Garnett, who has worked for GNER for more than eight years, started his career at Dunlop in 1977 as a management trainee.

He worked for a time as a manager in the milk business and joined Sealink in 1986 running its cross-channel ferries.

He then transferred to Euro Tunnel as commercial director.

The university also awarded an honorary Doctorate of Civil Law to Benfield Motor Group chairman John Squires OBE at the ceremony alongside students from the university's Newcastle Business School.

Olympic triple-jump champion Jonathan Edwards CBE will today be awarded an honorary Doctorate of Civil Law at Newcastle City Hall alongside students from the schools of psychology and sport sciences and applied sciences.

Edwards rose to fame in 1995 when he was the first man to jump further than 18 metres. He won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics and a gold in 2000, and holds gold medals from the World Championships, European Champion-ships and Commonwealth Games.

He has won seven gold medals, three silvers and two bronzes at international competition.