Pratchett's anger at Alzheimers

Pratchett said a "phantom stroke" had caused the condition

Author Terry Pratchett has revealed how "angry" he was when doctors diagnosed him with Alzheimer's disease.

Speaking on ITV1 programme This Morning, the 59-year-old explained how he had found the news hard to digest.

"I didn't know where to go and what to do and there was a lot of flailing around and shouting really," he said.

He also revealed the first indication that he may have been ill was when he was unable to tie a neck tie and his typing "became worse".

Absolutely angry'

The Discworld author said last year a "phantom stroke" had caused the condition.

He told host Fern Britton the news of his illness had made him "absolutely angry".

The writer said: "I'm a humanist, which means I'm an atheist, the trouble with being an atheist is that it lets God off the hook. You really want someone to blame."

Describing himself as "Mr Fit" he explained how he takes a lot of exercise and eats a lot of oily fish.

He added that he has given up his driving licence for safety reasons.

The trouble with being an atheist is that it lets God off the hook Terry Pratchett

"I realised that I probably had to work harder at driving safely, that's the best way I could put it," he said.

He then explained to Britton and stand-in presenter Eamonn Holmes how the first signs of the illness has already started to affect him.

"It's weird stuff like I can look for my mobile phone on the desk ,and not see my mobile phone. Then I'd say, 'where's my mobile phone I put it down, ah there it is'.

"If you can't see your mobile phone, you can't see the girl on the crossing," he said.

Pratchett, whose work has been translated into 27 languages, was made an OBE in 1998 for services to British literature.

The Discworld series is set in a parallel universe supported on the backs of four elephants that stand on the shell of a turtle.

Making Money, the 36th novel in the sequence, was published last year.