Sir Paul giving a thumbs up after receiving the award. Pix: BBCPARIS: Sir Paul McCartney has been given France's highest award, the Legion of Honour, for services to music. The former Beatle was decorated by President Francois Hollande during a ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

As an officer of the Legion of Honour, Sir Paul joins such cultural icons as actor Clint Eastwood and singers Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli.

In his native Britain, he was knighted by the Queen in 1997 - earning the title Sir.

Sir Paul said afterwards: "It is such an honour to be awarded this."

He recently performed to a global audience at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The Legion of Honour was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, and comes in five grades - Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer and Grand Cross.

Sir Paul, 70, has enjoyed a long and successful music career after rising to fame with The Beatles.

He and bandmate John Lennon penned such hits as Yesterday, Hey Jude and A Hard Day's Night, before the Beatles split up in 1970. McCartney went on to forge a solo career.

- BBC News