OXFORD author Philip Pullman’s new novel has been named the Book of the Year.

The bookseller Waterstones gave La Belle Sauvage: The Book Of Dust Volume One the title, beating competition from six other works.

Mr Pullman described winning the accolade as like having ‘cream as well as apple pie’.

Thanking his fans, 71-year-old Pullman said: “I had no idea that La Belle Sauvage would turn out to be so popular.

“I daresay many of the people who read His Dark Materials as children are now grown up and buying books for themselves, and I’m very grateful to them.”

La Belle Sauvage tells the tale of 11-year-old canoe enthusiast Malcolm Polstead and his daemon, Asta, who live with his parents at the Trout Inn, Wolvercote. His life begins to change after he discovers a special guest is living with nuns at Godstow Priory.

Mr Pullman also called for support for the nation’s booksellers when accepting the award, adding: “Booksellers are an absolutely necessary part of the complex ecology of the book world.”