Top British horror writer James Herbert has died at the age of 69.

The author passed away at his home in Sussex, England on Wednesday morning (20Mar13).

Herbert shot to fame in 1974 with the release of his first novel, The Rats, about flesh-eating rodents taking over his native London.

He went on to publish popular titles including The Fog, The Spear, The Others and '48, and sold more than 54 million books worldwide. His latest release, Ash, was published last year (12).

The writer's works were often adapted for the screen - 1982's Deadly Eyes was based on The Rats, and 1995 movies Fluke and Haunted were also hits, while The Secret Of Crickley Hall was turned into a Bbc Tv film in December (12).

Herbert was awarded an Order of the British Empire (Obe) medal by Queen Elizabeth Ii in 2010.

A cause of death has yet to be released.