Children's author Philip Pullman has been awarded an honorary degree by the University of Oxford, 40-years after attending the university as an undergraduate.

The writer, who read English at Exeter College, created His Dark Materials trilogy set in a parallel version of Oxford.

But now Pullman has come back down to earth to be bestowed with the honour at the university's Sheldonian Theatre.

Pullman, who now lives in the city, said: "It's the sort of thing that Oxford does far better than any other university, I'm sure.

"The setting's so magnificent. You couldn't wish for a finer backdrop for any formal ceremonial."

He said he was "immensely gratified" to have been chosen for the Doctor of Letters degree, particularly after being a very "idle undergraduate".

In a service conducted in Latin Professor Richard Jenkyns, the university's Public Orator, described the writer as a "most skilful weaver of tales".

Pullman joins a list of esteemed authors who have lived in Oxford, including Kenneth Grahame, Lewis Carroll and CS Lewis and is part of the writing industry which has "outclassed every other nation".