Robbie Williams honoured in his hometown

Singer Robbie Williams has been granted the Freedom of Stoke-on-Trent, a symbolic title to recognise civic contributions. He says it's surreal to get the "huge honour".

The "Angels" hitmaker, currently on the British leg of his "Swings Both Ways" tour, was honoured in a ceremony held Tuesday attended by his parents, wife Ayda Field, their 21 month-daughter Teddy, and Stoke-on-Trent Lord Mayor Majid Khan, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

He said: "I can see how much this means to everyone in the room. I can see how proud they are of me and I am incredibly proud to be from Stoke on Trent - no matter how far away I am or how long I am away I am a Stokie...

"It's so surreal to feel I've got this huge honour and I haven't totally taken it in. But it's so poignant for me to have my little girl with me and my wife and my unborn baby.

"This is Teddy's first visit to Stoke-on-Trent. I grew up here, her life is so different to mine. At her age Stoke-on-Trent was my whole world and I dreamed of getting into another world.

"All my dreams came true but as they come true you realise how much you miss the freedom you had as a kid and the safety and security you feel in your own little world. Stoke-on-Trent made me. My humour, my cheeky chappie bit, that's all from here. Cut me and it's through me like a stick of rock."