Brian Cox receives degree from Sir Patrick Stewart

Physicist and broadcaster Brian Cox has received an honorary doctorate from actor Sir Patrick Stewart at a ceremony in Greater Manchester.

The BBC presenter received the degree from the University Campus Oldham, part of the University of Huddersfield.

The former Star Trek actor is the chancellor of the West Yorkshire institution.

Professor Cox said he was a "huge Star Trek fan" and it was "an honour to get it from Patrick".

Sir Patrick played the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation between 1987 and 1994, and reprised the role in four feature films.

He said there had been "a shift in the nature of reality for a moment when the two of us came face to face".

He added it had been a "thrill" to give Professor Cox the award.

"Not only was I in the company of a world class scientist, but also a media superstar, and he brings status and glamour to an event like this," he said.

The physicist, who was born in Oldham, said it was a "huge honour" to receive the award in his home town.

Professor Cox is part of the University of Manchester's School of Physics and Astronomy and presents The Infinite Monkey Cage on BBC Radio 4.