LOCAL HERO Andy Murray is to receive the Freedom of the City in his old school this month, becoming only the third person to attain that honour.

Murray will be given the honour at a special council meeting in Dunblane High School on Wednesday 23 April.

Stirling’s Provost, Mike Robbins, said: “Andy is a local hero who has achieved sporting excellence at an international level — he’s a great role model for our young people, and we are very much looking forward to honouring him with the Freedom of the City.” Andy Murray said: “I’m really looking forward to my visit to Stirling and my old school.

“I don’t get up to Scotland as much as I’d like due to my schedule, but it’s an honour to receive the Freedom of the City and I can’t wait to see everyone.” The decision to bestow this honour upon Andy was made after his historic US Open and Olympic Games successes in 2012 - even before his Wimbledon gong.

However Murray was unable to collect his award before now due to a combination of training schedules, competitions and his recovery from back surgery on a persistent injury problem.

His mother Judy had revealed the April plans back in November when she received an honorary degree from the University of Stirling.

Colonel Frank Saunders and crickter Irwin Iffla are the two other established Freemen of Stirling.