NEWSREADER Jackie Bird was "humbled" as she was presented with an honorary degree from Glasgow University.

Bird, 50, joined a group of leading figures from the worlds of science and medicine, including Hadron Collider scientist, Rolf-Dieter Heuer.

She said: "I'm heading straight over to Edinburgh to present the Olympic Torch ceremony tonight and I want to keep my gown on but I don't think they'll let me because it's too flammable."

Bird, collecting her first-ever university degree, admitted she felt a little out of place sitting alongside world-leading scientists and doctors.

She said: "It feels wonderful to be a Doctor of Letters. Who would have thought it? It's been amazing spending time with Rolf-Dieter Heuer, head of Cern Institute – I was more thrilled about that than anything."

Picture: Colin Mearns