Alison Moyet to receive honorary degree

Alison Moyet studied at Southend Technical College in the 1970s

Singer Alison Moyet is to receive an honorary degree from the University of Essex for services to British music.

Billericay-born Moyet will collect her award at a ceremony at the South Essex College in Southend next month.

The 50-year-old had several top 20 hits with both Yazoo and as a solo artist in the 1980s, with songs including Only You, Is This Love and Love Letters.

The Grammy-nominated artist said she was "exceedingly proud" to be receiving the award.

She said: "I feel truly privileged to have been born in south east Essex and to have benefited from all the many and varied opportunities it offered me.

"[The college] gave me the invaluable opportunity to better understand music and explore the arts."

After growing up in Basildon and studying at Southend Technical College, as it was then known, Moyet formed Yazoo with ex-Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke.

The duo's debut song, Only You, reached number two in the single charts in 1982.

After going solo, she scored six further top 10s during the decade.

She is currently writing and recording her next album.