Sir Paul McCartney has been presented with a Kennedy Center Honor from US president Barack Obama.

The former Beatle collected the award at the White House in Washington DC on Sunday (December 5).

Obama joked that Sir Paul had become “something of a regular” at the White House after he won the Gershwin Prize in the summer.

The annual award recognises arts figures who contribute to US culture.

Obama added that the award also highlights the winners’ “unique ability to bring us closer together and to capture something larger about who we are - not just as Americans, but as human beings”.

Other recipients this year included chat show host Oprah Winfrey, country singer Merle Haggard and choreographer Bill T. Jones.

(by Jason Gregory)