BURNLEY'S newly crowned World Superbike Champion is to be honoured by his home town.

Neil Hodgson, who cruised to his historic victory on Sunday, will be invited by the mayor, Coun Lilian Clark, to a special civic reception at the town hall to celebrate his success.

Coun Clark said: "It think it is a fantastic idea. Everyone who brings an achievement to their town deserves a reception. Burnley has a lot of hidden talent that is suddenly emerging and I think it is fabulous."

The idea of holding a civic thank-you was put forward at a meeting of the council's executive committee last night and was supported unanimously by members.

Speaking after the meeting, deputy leader of the council Pat Bennett said: "We think winning the World Superbike Championships is a very great achievement. He is Burnley born and bred so his success reflects on the town.

"This is something worth celebrating and it is about time we looked at the good things in the town. This would be a chance to congratulate him properly and recognise his achievement."

The date and exact details of the reception have yet to be agreed.

The council held a similar reception for Burnley gymnast Craig Heap after he captained the England team to Commonwealth gold medal in Manchester in August last year and Blackburn with Darwen Council honoured its own World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty, when he won the title in 1999.

Burnley MP Peter Pike has also paid tribute to the town's champion by putting down a special motion on the Parliament's daily agenda - the Commons Order Paper.

It says his home town is delighted at his winning the title formerly held by Blackburn's Carl Fogarty - especially as his clinching the title in Assen came just a week after he became a father for the first time.

Mr Pike's motion wishes Mr Hodgson "success both on the track and with his new family in the future''.

Neil, who became a father just days before becoming the first Briton to take the world title since Blackburn's Carl Fogarty in 1999, secured his title with a second place followed by a first in races held in Assen, Holland, last weekend.

On a triumphant lap of honour after the race the 29-year-old, who now lives in the Isle of Man, wore a tee-shirt that read "Who's the daddy?", given to him by a fan to celebrate the birth of his daughter, Holly Jean.