Two regional daily papers have been recognised for their contribution over the last 200 years by being awarded the freedom of the city.

However the symbolic honour conferred on the Liverpool Daily Post and sister title the Liverpool Echo does not grant their editors privileges such as driving sheep through the city.

Liverpool City Council granted the freedom of the city to mark 200 years since the founding of the Liverpool Weekly Mercury, the papers’ predecessor before the Daily Post was established in 1855.

The ceremonial honour has been given to the papers to recognise the years they have championed Liverpool and the charity work they have done.

A council spokesman confirmed the freedom of the city award was purely symbolic and did not give journalists at the paper any special rights.

Daily Post editor Mark Thomas said: “I am delighted the Liverpool Daily Post and its younger sister newspaper the Liverpool Echo are being honoured in this way for their contribution to the life of this city over the last 156 years.

“It is a tribute to all the great journalists who have served the people of Liverpool so well through peacetime and war, triumph and disaster, down the generations.

“I know all of our current staff are absolutely delighted at the accolade, and all who have been associated with the newspapers down the years, and their families, will be just as pleased, I am sure.”

Council leader Joe Anderson added: “They have been the voice of the city for more than 150 years and they constantly champion Liverpool as a great place to live, work and do business.”

Previous recipients of the freedom of the city award include all four members of The Beatles and former South African president Nelson Mandela.