With honours, from me to you: Sir Paul gave Robin Gibb his diploma

Gibb received an honorary companionship - the equivalent of an honorary degree - from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (Lipa) on Friday.

Sir Paul opened Lipa in the grounds of his old school in 1996.

Manchester-raised Gibb formed the band with his brothers and has sold 64 million albums to date.

Songwriter Guy Chambers, Ash frontman Tim Wheeler and actor Alec McCowen also received companionships.

Mark Featherstone-Witty, Lipa's founding principal and chief executive, said: "Around 30 successful showbusiness people have shared their lives and skills with students this year from Dawn French to Richard Wilson.

"We would want to honour them all, but the degree ceremony can really only cope with four."