A FELLOW musician who lectures at Kidderminster College has described rock star Robert Plant's CBE in the New Year's Honours List as 'very deserved.'

Kevyn Gammond, who played in Mr Plant’s band Priory of Brion and is a project manager of MAS Records and a music lecturer at the college, was full of praise for his friend.

He said: “I think it is great news. He has done a great deal for many charities and organisations. It is very deserved.”

The former Led Zeppelin frontman, who lives in Shatterford, was given the accolade in recognition of his services to music.

Still hugely popular today, Led Zeppelin were formed 40 years ago and have been widely acclaimed as one of the first heavy metal bands.

They broke up in 1980 following the death of drummer John Bonham and have sold more than 300 million albums world wide.

In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine named Mr Plant as number 15 on their list of the 100 greatest singers of all time.

Aged 60, he is currently enjoying a successful solo career, having toured America and Europe last year with bluegrass star Alison Krauss.

The performances received rave reviews and their critically-acclaimed album Raising Sand has been nominated for five Grammys.

A one-off Led Zeppelin comeback concert last year in London on November 26 created massive interest with reports of about 20 million people bidding for tickets.

The special gig was the band’s first since their reunion in 1985 at Live Aid.

Mr Plant still finds the time for the odd performance in local venues such as Kidderminster Town Hall and supports many local causes.

He helped boost the Shuttle/Times & News Operation Covert appeal to raise £80,000 to replace the Rhydd Covert activity centre after it had been destroyed by vandals.

In 2005 he was pictured manning a mechanical digger to cut the first trench for the new facility in the woodland site next to West Midland Safari Park.

He is also patron of Mighty Atom Smasher (MAS) Records which helps to promote the latest up and coming bands in the West Midlands, in partnership with Kidderminster College.

MAS provides training and advice for nearly 160 musicians, helping bands to land all important record deals.