A BID to make one of the region's most famous musical acts freemen of Newcastle has failed.

Bosses at Newcastle City Council have turned down an application to give folk rockers Lindisfarne the city's highest honour.

Council chiefs decided not to bestow the accolade after claiming there was not enough support for the move.

The authority received a total of 146 petitions calling for the band to be made freemen. Of these, only 30 came from people in the North-East.

The city has 84 honorary freemen, ranging from world statesmen to sports stars.

A council spokeswoman said: "We do look at Freedom of the City for particularly outstanding contributions to the profile of Newcastle. For example, we recently made the decision to grant Jonny Wilkinson the honour, which has proved to be a very popular decision with the public.

"We look at every case on its individual merits, and while we recognise that Lindisfarne have made a contribution to Geordie culture, we feel that not enough public support has been demonstrated to justify giving out this honour."

The band was formed on Tyneside in 1969. The line-up of Alan Hull, Ray Jackson, Simon Cowe, Ray Laidlaw and Rod Clements shot to fame with hits including Meet Me On The Corner, Lady Eleanor, Run For Home and their smash-hit album, Fog On The Tyne.

They split into two bands, but two founder members reformed the group after Alan Hull died in 1995.

They called it a day last year and played their farewell gig at Newcastle Opera House in October.