Music stars Blondie are to be given an honorary prize at this year's NME Awards.

The band, known for hits such as Hanging On The Telephone and Heart Of Glass, will receive the Godlike Genius prize at the ceremony to be held at the O2 Academy in Brixton, south London, later this month.

Blondie - led by Debbie Harry and celebrating their 40th anniversary this year - will attend the event and are due to perform.

Previous winners of the award have included The Clash, Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher and Johnny Marr.

In a statement, Blondie said: "We've always had a special relationship with the UK and this is great, it's nice to be recognised and it's an outstanding list. To be honoured so nicely, and to play music. What could be better?"

The group was among the acts which grew from New York's mid-70s punk scene, centred on the CBGBs venue, which also gave rise to The Ramones, Talking Heads and Television.

But they quickly overshadowed their contemporaries in terms of chart success, and Harry became the model for dozens of frontwomen.

The awards event - ­sponsored by the city of Austin in Texas - takes place on February 26.