A composer who worked with Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland and Dame Shirley Bassey will soon add an OBE medal to his hoard of awards and platinum records.

Norman Newell, from East Preston, near Worthing, has been made an OBE in the New Year honours list to recognise his services to music.

He has more than 60 platinum, gold and silver discs after writing hits such as Shirley Bassey's This Is My Life, Matt Monro's Portrait Of My Love and Petula Clark's chart-topper Sailor.

He has also won a Grammy, an Emmy, three Ivor Novello awards and six British Music Industry awards.

Mr Newell, born in London's East End, was given his first break in the music business in 1946 by wartime colleague Bill Waddington, who later became famous as Coronation Street's Percy Sugden.

Mr Waddington helped him get a job as a songwriter with the London-based publishing house Cinephonic Music Company.

His efforts impressed record giants EMI, who recruited him in 1949 as head of artists and repertory for its showpiece British Columbia label.

He signed 17-year-old Petula Clark and the Beverley Sisters and recorded artists including Dame Shirley, Dietrich, Noel Coward, Gracie Fields, Paul Robeson and former Eastbourne resident Russ Conway.

Mr Newell also penned Ken Dodd's 1965 chart-topper Tears.

Mr Newell continued to produce cast albums, including the London cast recordings of Fiddler On The Roof and Gypsy.