The songwriter behind the anti-apartheid protest anthem Free Nelson Mandela is to receive an honour from the President of South Africa.

Jerry Dammers will be given the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo, at a ceremony in Pretoria on Sunday.

The South African government said his award was for writing the 1984 hit and his Artists Against Apartheid work.

Other people also being honoured at the ceremony include former Labour leader Lord Neil Kinnock.

Mr Dammers wrote Free Nelson Mandela with Coventry-based band The Special AKA (formerly the Specials) in 1984.

At that time Mr Mandela had been in prison for more than two decades and it would be another six years before he was released.

(BBC)