SIR Ian McKellen has thanked Bolton's theatres – for getting him into acting.

The 77-year-old told an audience at the UK Theatre Awards of the importance of his trips to the town's auditoriums in his youth.

Speaking as he picked up the award for outstanding contribution to British theatre, Sir Ian said: "If it hadn't been for those local theatres, where I did my first theatre-going, I wouldn't be an actor, of course not."

Sir Ian, whose most famous roles include Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and Magneto in the X-Men, told the crowd at London's Guildhall that the number of theatres in the country had declined since he was younger.

Sir Ian, who went to Bolton School and is patron of Bolton Little Theatre, was honoured for championing diversity and for his commitment to theatre, including touring productions.

He joins Sir Matthew Bourne, Timothy West and Prunella Scales as recipients of the trophy.

The UK Theatre Awards celebrate theatre across the country but do not cover National Theatre productions or West End shows unless they have transferred from a theatre outside the capital.

President of UK Theatre, Fiona Allan, said: "The UK Theatre Awards celebrate the world-class theatre that is performed on stages across the country and demonstrate the breadth and depth of outstanding talent.

"It is also important that we recognise the venues and the teams that run them. As centres of artistic and creative excellence, our local theatres are a vital part of all our communities."

Also among the top winners was Paapa Essiedu, who was the first black actor to portray Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).

He scooped the award for best performance in a play for the RSC's production of the Bard's Danish tragedy.

He said: "It's significant in that the RSC is a national organisation that should represent everyone in our country regardless of your creed, colour, religion, sexuality, whatever."

Theatre veteran Vanessa Redgrave was also honoured at the ceremony at London's Guildhall, picking up the prestigious Gielgud award for excellence in the dramatic arts.

The actress, aged 79, has starred in more than 35 productions in London's West End and on Broadway, in a career lasting six decades.