OLYMPIANS Marc Scott and Scott Lincoln are to be made honorary citizens of their home town to mark the community's pride in their achievements.

The pair, who competed in this year's 2020 Tokyo Olympics, will join fellow paralympian Laurence Whiteley. the para-sport rower who was given the title by Northallerton Town Council after his outstanding gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016. He defended the title this year, carrying off another gold medal with partner Lauren Rowles in the PR2 mixed double skulls title.

Town councillors said they wanted to congratulate the Olympians and mark their amazing achievements. Mayor Philip Eames said it was agreed unanimously that the honour should be given to them. A celebration is being organised as soon as possible to present the titles, when the award from last year will also be handed over to John Hyde, who was named honorary citizen for Northallerton for 2020 in recognition of his tireless fundraising since the death of his son Ben in 2003.

Mr Hyde has raised tens of thousands of pounds through the Ben Hyde Memorial Trust and for local good causes over the past 17 years. He set up the trust following the death of his son, Lance Corporal Hyde, 23, who was one of six Red Caps killed by a mob in a police station near Basra, in Iraq.

Marc Scott, 27, had cause for double celebrations this year after competing in the Olympics at the 5,000m and 10,000m, although a foot issue meant he failed to triumph. But in this year's Great North Run he carried off the glory in the world's best known half marathon, beating the opposition in a winning time of one hour one minute and 22 seconds. For Marc, a member of the Richmond and Zetland Harriers, it meant he followed in the footsteps of one of his heroes, the legendary Sir Mo Farah, who won the race six times.

Meanwhile, the Tokyo Olympics was a long way from his hometown of Northallerton for shot putter Scott Lincoln, 28. But the 11 times British champion took time off from work as a part-time bricklayer with his dad's building firm for the dream trip. While narrowly missing out on the final, Scott said being an Olympian was the original goal and it was his first major, which means there are high hopes for the future.