BEST-SELLING author Bill Bryson can expect a different kind of writer's cramp later this month - when he shakes hands with almost 3,500 students over four days.

The writer, best known for his book Notes From A Small Island, will make his first official engagement in his role as Chancellor of Durham University when he presides over the university's largest-ever set of degree ceremonies.

In all, there will be 14 degree ceremonies at Durham Cathedral between June 28 and July 1 - during which time the author will shake hands with thousands of students as he confers their degrees.

Mr Bryson was appointed to be the head of the university in April, taking over from the late Sir Peter Ustinov.

He last attended a degree ceremony a year ago, when he was presented with an honorary Doctor of Civil Law degree.

This time, he will be donning the traditional chancellor's brilliant black and gold gown and gold-tasselled mortar board to hand over the hard-earned degrees.

Mr Bryson said: "The cathedral is an incomparable place for graduating.

"I greatly enjoyed receiving my degree there and I look forward to sharing the occasion with so many new Durham graduates.

"It will be an impressive and slightly daunting experience for me. I will be conferring degrees on them, but I feel that they will also be admitting me to their university."