Top French honour for Sir Paul

The former Beatle was promoted to the rank of officer by President Francois Hollande in a private ceremony in Paris.

McCartney, 70, has joined the likes of singers Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli who received the honour from former President Nicolas Sarkozy.

President Hollande decorated McCartney with the Legion of Honour in front of an audience of family and friends at the Elysée Palace.

After receiving the award, Sir Paul said: “It is such an honour to be awarded this.”

President Hollande praised McCartney’s contribution to the arts and joked that he preferred the Beatles to the Rolling Stones.

The French leader also said he favoured McCartney over fellow Beatle John Lennon when he was younger.