A WEST Devon author is the first to be honoured in a series of luxury pens to celebrate the very best in crime fiction.

Michael Jecks from South Zeal has been awarded the honour by high-class pen makers Conway Stewart, who also supplies pens to Tony Blair and Bill Clinton.

The suppliers have launched a limited edition crime writing pen dedicated to Mr Jecks, who has written more than 30 novels.

He is now a full time writer, best known for his Knights Templar mysteries.

Mr Jecks' signature will be engraved on the barrel of each of the 100 pens.

Fans will be able to secure one of the pens, which comes with an ink chosen by Mr Jecks, as well as a short story, published for the first time, which is signed and numbered by the author.

Mr Jecks' best-selling Templar series is set in the turbulent 1300s.