Oxford honours Morse creator

Actor John Thaw with Morse creator Colin Dexter

Inspector Morse creator Colin Dexter has been awarded freedom of his home city of Oxford for raising its profile across the world.

Councillors decided to bestow honorary freeman of Oxford on the 70-year-old author for boosting international tourism.

Mr Dexter based his highly successful Morse novels in Oxford and for 13 years the television dramatisations were filmed there.

The writer, like director Alfred Hitchcock, made cameo appearances in all the shows alongside Morse actor John Thaw and his sidekick Sergeant Lewis, played by Kevin Whately.

Privilege

Mr Dexter was awarded with the OBE for his services to literature in 2000.

The former school master was delighted with his new honour and called it a great privilege.

He said: "Until this time, I think a plaque I had from the city council about 10 years ago was the thing I was proud of most, but obviously this is huge.

"It is a little surprising because, judging from my postbag, I don't think I have been most popular since getting rid of the crimebuster."

Mr Dexter won critical acclaim for his 14 Inspector Morse novels.

The much-loved character was killed off in the final book, The Remorseful Day, which was screened in 2000.

Previous recipients of the Freedom of Oxford include Nelson Mandela.