Geldof picks up honorary degree

Bob Geldof reprised his Band Aid effort in 2005 with the Live 8 concert

Musician and charity campaigner Bob Geldof has been awarded an honorary doctorate for his contribution to music and humanitarian causes.

Geldof - the driving force behind the 1985 Live Aid event - addressed science graduates of the University of East London as he received the degree.

"I actually thought you were going to be a bunch of musos, it turns out you're geeks," he joked.

The ceremony was held at the Barbican Centre in central London.

Irish national Geldof - who co-wrote the Band Aid charity single Do They Know It's Christmas? - told the audience that east London was a meeting place for London's immigrants.

"So it's great to come here and see this mix of people now all amazingly well-qualified," he said.

Twenty years after the Live Aid concerts, Geldof helped to organise the Live 8 project which sought to raise awareness of issues which affect Africa.

He was joined at the degree ceremony on Monday by students from the university's science and technology departments.