Terry Pratchett signs a copy of his new book The Truth for Barbara Williams in the new library at Tidworth Leisure Centre.

More than 350 people crowded into Tidworth Leisure Centre library on Friday night for a rare public appearance by best-selling author Terry Pratchett.

It was a significant coup on the part of organisers to persuade the normally reclusive fantasy novelist to promote the centre's new 10,000-book community library.

Mr Pratchett, who lives in the Chalke Valley near Salisbury, is best known as the creator of the hugely successful Discworld series.

After a tremendously entertaining talk about his life and work, the novelist spent more than an hour-and-a-half signing copies of his new book, The Truth.

Chris Harling, district librarian, said: "People of all ages, young and old, came to listen and some had come from as far afield as the Isle of Wight to hear him speak. It was an excellent evening."