Discworld author's doctor honour

Terry Pratchett's books have sold more than 31 million copies

Terry Pratchett, the author of the Discworld novels, is to be awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Bath.

The fantasy writer, whose books have sold more than 31 million copies around the world, spent eight years in the city working on the local newspaper, the Bath Chronicle.

Mr Pratchett, who was awarded the OBE for services to literature in 1998, will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in a ceremony on at the city's Assembly Rooms on 10 December.

A year ago, the Somerset town of Wincanton twinned itself with the fictional town of Ankh-Morpork from Mr Pratchett's books.

On Saturday and Sunday, hundreds of Discworld fans - and the author himself - gathered in Wincanton to celebrate the first anniversary of its link with the books at the annual Hogswatch Extravaganza.