Author Bill Bryson is set to become the new president of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

Bryson will take over from newspaper columnist and military historian Sir Max Hastings.

The best selling American writer, who currently lives in Norfolk, is an outspoken supporter of the English countryside.

His has written extensively about England and its nature in books such as Notes from a Small Island.

Bryson said: “I’m very honoured. For a very long time I’ve been a huge admirer of CPRE, what it does and what it stands for. I’d like to help it to build on its successes if I can.”