John Caudwell receives honorary degree for charity work

Mr Caudwell sold his mobile phone business in 2006 to concentrate on his charity work

The billionaire founder of Phones4U has been presented with an honorary degree in recognition of his charity work.

John Caudwell set up Caudwell Children in 2000 to help provide specialist equipment, treatment and therapy for sick and disabled children in the UK.

Birmingham City University will confer the honorary doctoral degree at a ceremony in the city's Symphony Hall.

It said his was one of the fastest growing children's charities in the UK, which he paid the running costs for.

A City University spokesman said: "As Caudwell Children's largest benefactor, he personally donates the cost of the charity's annual management and administration overheads and sits as chairman of the board of trustees alongside its ambassadors, which include Hollywood actresses Joan Collins and Elizabeth Hurley, Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster, Bruce Forsyth, and singer Robbie Williams."

The University said Mr Caudwell, who was ranked 25th in the Sunday Times Rich List in 2009 with an estimated fortune worth £1.4bn, had interests in other charities, including the Prince's Trust, the Elton John Aids Foundation, the Gorbachev Foundation and the NSPCC.

Mr Caudwell, who lives near Eccleshall in Staffordshire, sold his mobile phone group in 2006 to concentrate on his charity work.