Bob Geldof arrives at Faversham Town Hall for the reception

The TV entrepreneur and former Boomtown Rats frontman attended a reception at Faversham Town Hall, Kent, on Thursday.

Mayor Mick Gates said: "People kept saying to me we should do something, as he has lived here so long, so we thought a presentation would be nice."

Geldof said he was honoured that the town where he has lived for 23 years had held such an event for him.

Estate workers

"They usually see me mooching around here unshaven and grumpy trying to battle my way through Tesco's," he said.

This summer, Geldof organised Live 8 concerts in London and around the world to coincide with the G8 summit of world leaders held in Edinburgh.

The summit ended with an agreement to boost aid for developing countries by $50bn (�28.8bn).

Geldof's home is five minutes' walk from Faversham town hall and workers from his estate and local businesses were also invited to attend the reception.

The musician and campaigner for Africa said he was spending Christmas at home in Faversham.

"I really like it here because it has no airs and graces," he said.

"East Kent has got a peculiar atmosphere to it and it is an idea of England that I like."