Freedom of Northampton for Chantelle Cameron and Courtney Lawes

Chantelle Cameron and Courtney Lawes were given the Freedom of Northampton at a ceremony at Franklins Gardens

Two sporting stars have been awarded the freedom of their home town in a special ceremony.

Boxer Chantelle Cameron and rugby player Courtney Lawes were handed the Freedom of Northampton at Franklins Gardens on Tuesday.

Cameron, whose year ended in defeat in a World Super Lightweight title fight, said the award was "unbelievable".

Lawes, who retired from England duty this year after 106 appearances, described it as a "huge honour".

The freedom of a town is largely symbolic, and once came with special privileges, such as being exempt from tolls and tithes and being able to graze cattle on common lands.

Composer Sir Malcolm Arnold and Princess Diana have been granted the ceremonial role in the past.

The two latest additions to the Freeman roll were presented with their certificates by the Northampton mayor, Stephen Hibbert.

Chantelle Cameron faced Katie Taylor in a World Super Lightweight title fight in Dublin last month

Cameron, who grew up in Northampton, said: "To get this award is such an honour. I was so scared having to speak.

"I always say at press conference, I'm not much of a talker so to stand there and do the oath in front of everyone, I just wanted the ground to swallow me up."

"My family are so proud," she added, "and my friends that have come today, they are so used to seeing me in the ring, getting cut, with blood all over my face, so to see me standing there today getting such an honour, such high status, it was quite nice for everyone, and recognition that I've done well in boxing."

Courtney Lawes tackles South Africa's Eben Etzebeth in this year's Rugby World Cup

Rugby union star Lawes was born in Hackney but came to Northampton when he was four.

Now 34, he said: "It's not something that you come across every day, didn't even know it was a thing until I got asked to be one but I got to meet some of the other Freemen today and it's obviously a huge honour for me to be able to represent the town to its fullest".

Mayor Mr Hibbert said; "We are delighted to be able to honour not one, but two eminent athletes, who have excelled in their respective sports and put Northampton firmly on the map with their world-class achievements."