ENGLAND Skipper Alan Shearer has notched up another major honour after he was given the key to his beloved Newcastle.

Toon Army front man Shearer said his heart was "bursting with pride" after he was made an Honorary Freeman of the City.

The £15m striker followed another Geordie footballing legend, Jackie Millburn, into the history books, when he received the award at a ceremony at the city's Civic Centre.

Shearer has twice been voted PFA Player of the Year, has won FWA Footballer of the Year and finished third in World Player of the Year.

He was capped 63 times by England, scoring 30 goals and was skipper up to his international retirement at Euro 2000.

The 30-year-old said yesterday: "It's a unique honour for me. My heart is bursting with pride.

"To see my name alongside that of Jackie Millburn makes it extra special."

Such was the honour to Shearer that all of United's staff were given the day off training yesterday.

"My family are very proud. It's great that my wife and my parents were there to see it, said Shearer.

"I've been back home for five years. I love the city and more.

"My heart had always been unashamedly Geordie.

Other recipients of the honour were Agriculture Minister Nick Brown, Lord Glenamara, Chancellor of the University of Northumbria, and - in an unusual move - the internationally successful Tyneside software company Sage.