Writer Terry Pratchett has admitted he was "flabbergasted" to receive a knighthood in the Queen's New Year Honours List.

The 60-year-old who is best known for his popular Discworld series of comic fantasy novels, received the honour for services to literature.

He has sold more than 55 million books worldwide and had his works translated into 33 languages.

Pratchett said: "There are times when phrases such as 'totally astonished' just don't do the job.

"I am of course delighted and honoured and, needless to say, flabbergasted."

The author shocked his fans when he announced in December 2007 that he had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease.

He has since campaigned to raise awareness of the condition and improve research funding.

Pratchett was born in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, in April 1948.

He passed his 11-plus but decided to attend High Wycombe Technical High School rather than the local grammar because he felt "woodwork would be more fun than Latin".

His career as a novelist really took off after the publication of the first Discworld book, The Colour of Magic, in 1983.

The Discworld novels are set in a parallel universe supported on the back of four elephants that stand on the shell of a giant turtle, which bears more than a passing resemblance to our own.

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