TWO local cricket legends will have one of Bradford’s top civic honours bestowed on them after councillors voted to admit them to the “The Roll of Honorary Freemen of Bradford.”

At an extraordinary meeting of Bradford Council this afternoon, members voted to award the honour to Adil Rashid and Jonny Bairstow - who were both key to England’s cricket team winning the World Cup last summer.

Now the vote has been approved, the Council will prepare a civic ceremony where the sportsmen will be officially given the honour.

The title is one of the top honours the Bradford district can offer its citizens, and it will mean the cricketers will join the likes of David Hockney, Barbara Castle and J.B. Priestley, who have previously been made Freemen of the City.

The pair etched their names into cricketing legend in July when England beat New Zealand to lift the World Cup.

Rashid was born in Bradford in 1988, and honed his skills playing in the Bradford Cricket League for Bradford and Bingley.

Since then he has become an all rounder playing at the highest level particularly known for his outstanding performance in one-day internationals.

He is an ambassador for the overseas Plastic Surgery Appeal, a Yorkshire-based charity which carries out much of its work in the Punjab region of Pakistan.

And he has remained routed to his home city - the Adil Rashid Cricket Academy in Bradford provides coaching and opportunities for the next generation of talent.

Bairstow who was born in Bradford in 1989 and first picked up a bat whilst toddling around Undercliffe Cricket Club where his father David Bairstow was a member.

In recent years he has supported the redevelopment of Park Avenue as a major cricket venue and acted as an ambassador for inward investment to Bradford and the Leeds City Region. The nominations were made by Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe.

At today’s meeting, she said: “I’m delighted to move this recommendation. They are cricketing heroes - not just England heroes but Bradford heroes, and they were seen on a world stage. We’re immensely proud of their contribution to cricket.

"We don't give this honour lightly. We haven't given it for 10 years. It is given to people who make a significant contribution not just to Bradford, but to the country on Bradford's behalf."

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Cllr Doreen Lee said the pair’s skills had been witnessed by people across the world during last year’s World Cup, adding: “Bradford is immensely proud of them both.”

Cllr John Pennington, Conservative group leader, said he had recently seen Rashid playing cricket on Allerton Road. He added: "That's how grounded he is."

He described Bairstow as a "Right good Bradford lad."

Councillor Brendan Stubbs (Lib Dem) said: "It is rare to see world champions come from our city. It is not just how they played that day (the World Cup), it recognises their whole career and what they do off the pitch."

Now it has been agreed to bestow the honour, the Council will organise what Cllr Lee described as a "proper bash" that will see the District celebrate the pair. This is likely to take place in September.