FAMOUS writer Bill Bryson is in the region this week to fulfil his duties as the new chancellor of Durham University.

Over the next four days, the American author will confer more than 3,000 degrees on students from the university.

Yesterday, he made his first official visit to the university's Stockton campus. He said: "It's always a pleasure to come up to the North-East. I'm on the record as saying that Newcastle is the friendliest city in the UK and I think that extends to the region as a whole.

"People here remind me a lot of Iowa, where I'm from in the States. Very welcoming and open."

Mr Bryson took over the role of chancellor earlier this year following the death of Sir Peter Ustinov.

He said: "I had some real doubts about taking over from such a charismatic figure - in comparison with him I fail in every respect. But I will be very enthusiastic and sincere."

Despite being well-known as a travel writer, Mr Bryson, who is currently writing a book about his childhood, admitted it was his first trip to Teesside.

He said: "My wife had a really good friend from Billingham who didn't speak too highly of the place.

"But I find that quite often places that have a bad reputation are a totally different experience when you go there. I've been here since Saturday and I'm very impressed, especially with the university campus which is really state-of-the-art."

* Professor Ray Hudson, of Durham University, has been awarded the Victoria Medal by the Royal Geographical Society for research on regional and industrial change in the UK and Europe.