Infamous punk rocker Sid Vicious is in line to receive an unlikely honour from Tunbridge Wells.

Vicious, real name John Richie, was a pupil at the town's Sandown Court school - now called The Skinners' Kent Academy - for three years between 1969 and 1971.

The bass player's name is among 32 famous former Tunbridge Wells residents nominated for a blue plaque.

Volunteers won funds from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for 20 of the plaques, which cost around £300 each.

Vicious died from a heroin overdose aged 21 in 1979 after being arrested over his partner Nancy Spungen’s death in New York.

Blue plaque organisers have defended the nomination of Vicious.

Alastair Tod, chairman of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society, told a national newspaper: "We're all prepared to argue the case if necessary.

'We would be prepared to defend the inclusion of any of the names on our list.

'It's only a longlist, though, and I think Sid Vicious is probably an outlier."