Blue plaque unveiled at Beatles icon's former home

A blue plaque commemorating the life of Beatles legend George Harrison has been unveiled at his childhood home.

His widow Olivia Harrison, who revealed the tribute at the house in Arnold Grove, Liverpool, said it was "a source of family pride".

Harrison lived at the terraced house in the Wavertree district of the city until he was seven.

The plaque is one of the first official English Heritage blue plaques to be put on a property outside London.

In his memoirs, Harrison, who was born in 1943, said: “To look at, it is just like Coronation Street: no garden, door straight on to the street. It was OK that house, very pleasant being little and it was always sunny in summer.”

Olivia said Harrison had fond memories of "very tight knit secure family life".

"There was something about these small family places and how you learn to respect other people's space," she said.

"He had a freedom where he could go run down the alley and visit his nan and then back home. That was a big deal for a little five-year-old kid.

"This was his cocoon, and out of that came such an incredible man with such vision and compassion and sensibility."

Often called “the quiet Beatle”, Harrison's song-writing credits include While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Here Comes the Sun. He was the first of the Fab Four to top the charts after their split with the single My Sweet Lord in 1970.

Deeply influenced by eastern traditions, the guitarist learned to play the sitar with legendary Indian musician Ravi Shankar and pioneered fundraising concerts with his 1971 Concert For Bangladesh.

It raised money for refugees of the country's war of independence and the 1970 Bhola cyclone, and has been seen as the inspiration for events such as Live Aid.

Harrison also went on to co-produce British comedy classics Monty Python’s Life of Brian and Withnail and I.

Commemorative blue plaques began as a London scheme in the 1860s and have been run by English Heritage since 1986.

Initially limited to the capital, they inspired spin-off blue plaque schemes across the country but official blue plaques are now expanding nationwide by inviting members of the public to submit nominations until 19 July.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “For almost 150 years the London blue plaque scheme has celebrated figures from the past, helping the public to learn about and honour the rich history of the capital.

“Now everyone across the country has the opportunity to nominate the people who shaped their local area.”

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk