AUTHOR and illustrator Raymond Briggs has been recognised with a lifetime achievement award.

Best known for the classic story The Snowman, Briggs, who lives in Westmeston, near Plumpton, was given the honour by the charity BookTrust. A panel of six judges said the award recognised his “outstanding contribution” to children’s literature.

BookTrust paid tribute to the impact his “captivating and inspiring work” has had on children and adults alike.

Briggs, 83, who also created Ethel and Ernest, When the Wind Blows and Fungus the Bogeyman, said: “It’s lovely to be given an award for all my life achievements.

“Drawing, telling stories and sharing these adventures is something I’ve always been passionate about.

“Being awarded the BookTrust lifetime achievement award is an incredible honour and I’m so glad I’ve been able to make such an impression on people.”

The awards ceremony took place in London and the panel included writer and broadcaster Nicolette Jones, current Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell, author and illustrator Cressida Cowell, poet John Agard, leading human rights campaigner Shami Chakrabarti, and BookTrust chief executive Diana Gerald.

Ms Gerald said: “It is truly an honour to be presenting our third Lifetime Achievement Award to someone with such captivating and inspiring work.

“Raymond continues to have such a widespread impact on both children and adults and the award is so very well deserved.

Ms Chakrabarti said: “Raymond is a true artistic genius who has touched the hearts of millions of children of all ages.

“They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and his particular style of illustration is unmistakable, as are his understated and poignant words of narrative and dialogue.

“His talent expresses his values and with his choice and treatment of subjects, “He brings our history and contemporary challenges to life.”

Author and comedian David Walliams, who has a home in Hove, also congratulated Briggs.

He tweeted: “This is hugely deserved. Raymond Briggs is a legend. I have loved his books all my life, especially When the Wind Blows.”

The BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates the body of work of an author or illustrator who has made an outstanding contribution to children’s literature.

The award was set up in 2015 to celebrate an author or illustrator’s outstanding contribution to children’s books.

The first winner was Shirley Hughes, author of Dogger and the Alfie series.