Queen guitarist Brian May is to receive an award in the House of Lords in recognition of his animal welfare work.

The 63-year-old rock legend is being honoured by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

May, who has homes in London and Surrey, has supported the Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue centre in Camberley.

He also launched the Save Me campaign to ensure that the present laws protecting animals from cruelty are kept in place.

'Magnificent animals'
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He said: "Fighting for the welfare of our wild animals is not a task that any of us want to have to do.

"We do it because these magnificent animals live, breathe, see, hear, and feel pleasure and pain like we do, but they do not speak our language, so in the world of humans, they have no voice.

"They have no way to speak out against the abuse being perpetrated against them."

May, who has a PhD in astrophysics, will receive his honour during the Animal Action Awards ceremony at the House of Lords on Tuesday.

Robbie Marsland, the director of IFAW, said May had been dedicated to protecting animals for many years