Sir Chris Hoy will today be given the freedom of his home city Edinburgh as further recognition of his Olympic achievements.

Hoy has six cycling gold medals, which makes him the most successful British Olympian in history, and he will now become the sixth person to be given the freedom of the Scottish capital.

The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Sir Sean Connery, Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi are the other five people to receive the freedom of Edinburgh.

The councillors of Edinburgh voted unanimously at the end of August to award the honour to Hoy.

Hoy will be given the honour following today's open bus tour of the city for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.