Blur frontman Damon Albarn has been awarded the citizenship of Iceland after visiting the country regularly for more than 25 years.

The 52-year-old has a home in Reykjavik and has previously described himself as "a sort of migratory bird" to Iceland - even recording Blur's 1997 album of the same name there.

Albarn applied for full citizenship last year and his request was granted by the Icelandic government today, along with 29 others out of a total of 133 applicants.

"Damon is thrilled to now officially be a citizen of Iceland because he knows the country so well," a source told The Sun.

"It has been a constant source of inspiration for him and it is a safe haven right now.

"Apart from anything else, Iceland has just a handful of COVID cases so being there is far better than staying in the UK where he would be stuck inside."

Iceland - population 357,000 - has reported just 6,000 cases and 29 deaths relating to coronavirus to date.