A NORTH-EAST football great is to be given a civic honour following a campaign by local residents.

Former Middlesbrough star George Hardwick is to be given the Freedom of the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland along with Redcar historian Vera Robinson.

The pair join Redcar MP Mo Mowlam, who became a freeman in 1998 and the late football legend Wilf Mannion, who was awarded the honour in 1996.

Last year, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council asked for help from the public in nominating people for the award as a way of paying tribute to people who had made an outstanding contribution to life in the borough.

In east Cleveland, where 81-year-old Saltburn-born Mr Hardwick lives, a campaign sprung up supporting his nomination.

Now the council's executive has backed the choices of the Corporate Resources Advisory Panel and is recommending the honour is conferred on the pair.

Councillor Steve Kay, who led the campaign, said: "It's an honour not only for George but for the village of Lingdale."

Coun Norman Davies, lead member for Corporate Resources, said: "We think they are splendid and very deserving choices.

"Vera has made the history of Redcar her life's passion and been a marvellous promoter of the town. Everyone knows George was a great Boro star, an England stalwart and the only man ever to captain Great Britain, but it's his unsung work with the youth of east Cleveland that we also wanted to pay tribute to.

"We have always wanted to make the Freedom of the Borough an occasion for the millennium and we believe both Vera and George are perfect for the honour."

Mr Hardwick said he remembered his old Boro pal Wilf's surprise at being given the Freedom and said: "I am just as pleased as Wilf was."

Mr Hardwick's wife Jennifer added: "He knew there was support for him to get the honour, but he's absolutely over the moon to have been chosen."

Mrs Robinson, 86, has been a Redcar citizen all her life and also won an MBE for teaching in deprived areas. She started teaching at Marske School in 1932 and stayed there for seven years before she did supply teaching for several years. She settled at Grangetown Junior School and stayed there until she retired.

She said the award took her by surprise but was delighted at the accolade.