Lenny Henry to get the freedom of his home town Dudley

The council wants to recognise Henry's "outstanding contribution to charity"

Lenny Henry has been recommended to receive the freedom of his home town of Dudley, the council has announced.

Dudley Borough Council will hold an extraordinary meeting next month to formally approve the award.

Council leader David Sparks said the award recognised Mr Henry's services to entertainment and his "outstanding contribution to charity".

If the honour is approved Mr Henry will be presented with a freedom of the borough scroll later in the year.

Mr Henry won the New Faces talent competition in 1975 at the age of 18.

He was part of the team of the ITV children's programme Tiswas and later starred in The Lenny Henry Show and Chef on BBC TV.

His straight acting roles have included a part in the National Theatre's production of Shakespeare's A Comedy of Errors.

Mr Henry has also regularly fronted appeal programmes for the charity Comic Relief.