The childhood homes of Beatles legends John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney are to be preserved as national landmarks.
Lennon's Mendips duplex on Menlove Avenue in Liverpool, England and MCCartney's house on nearby Forthlin Road have already been restored to their original state and now both buildings have been awarded grade two listings, which means any alterations require government approval.
Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, is thrilled by the news.
She tells the Associated Press, "Mendips always meant a great deal to John and it was where his childhood dreams came true for himself and for the world."
The Beatles' number one hit Please Please Me was written in Lennon's home and MCCartney's residence previously served as a practice space for the duo's first band The Quarrymen.
The childhood haunts of lead guitarist George Harrison and drummer Ringo Starr were not granted the same protection by officials at English Heritage as neither home appeared to be "really intense creative hubs".