Great North Run founder Brendan Foster could get freedom of Newcastle

Brendan Foster has been nominated for an award.

Hebburn-born Brendan Foster has been nominated to received the Freedom of the City from Newcastle City Council.

The award is the highest the authority can give.

The 68-year-old has been nominated for his efforts to boost sport and the city of Newcastle over the years.

The Great North Run is a 13.1-mile event from Newcastle to South Shields and attracts thousands of runners and spectators to the region annually.

Foster founded the run in 1981.

His athletic achievements include a bronze medal in the 1976 Olympics in the 10,000m and golds in the 5,000m at the Rome European Championships in 1974 and the 10,000m in the 1978 Commonwealth Games.

The freedom honour is expected to be given the go-ahead by councillors at a meeting in Newcastle tomorrow.