Freedom of Gateshead for David Olusoga and Mick Henry

Former council leader Mick Henry and David Olusoga with their Freedom of Gateshead awards

Historian David Olusoga has been granted the Freedom of Gateshead.

The TV presenter, who grew up in the town, accepted the honour at a ceremony on Monday.

He described the day as "doubly-meaningful" as the fellow recipient, ex-council leader Mick Henry, helped to kickstart his career.

"[He] made a decision to give me a discretionary grant 27 years ago that enabled me to go to journalism school," he said.

Professor Olusoga, who was honoured for his contribution to academia, moved to Gateshead from Nigeria when he was five years old and grew up on St Cuthbert's Village estate.

Awarded an OBE in 2019, the writer has spoken of his love for the area as well as encounters with racism.

• Listen to David Olusoga on Desert Island Discs

He was also a vocal critic of the council's decision to close Gateshead Leisure Centre, which he used as a child.

"When I first went to journalism school, I wanted to tell stories about the communities that I came from," he told the BBC.

"I wanted to make history programmes about minorities, about people from the North, about people who were not from wealthy backgrounds.

"My experiences of growing up in Gateshead in a working-class community are at the centre of who I am, so it's wonderful to be embraced by my home town."

Mr Henry, who was a Labour ward councillor for Saltwell for 33 years before he stepped down in 2019, also spent 14 years as leader.

During his tenure, he oversaw the opening of the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts and Sage Gateshead.

He said receiving the award was "more important" to him than his CBE, which he was awarded in 2007.

"Gateshead is where I was born, Gateshead is where I grew up and I have been lucky enough to serve the people of Gateshead, and I hope changed for the better the borough of Gateshead," he added.