A TRILOGY written by an author who grew up in Meirionnydd is being commissioned into a drama series for the BBC.

Philip Pullman’s epic fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials is the basis for a new series due to be broadcast on BBC One.

The books have been published in more than 40 languages and have sold close to 17.5 million copies worldwide.

The author, who spent 10 years of his childhood in Harlech, has already seen his work recreated in a range of formats, notably on the big screen.

In 2006, New Line released The Golden Compass starring Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig and Dakota Blue Richards.

Mr Pullman said: “It’s been a constant source of pleasure to me to see this story adapted to different forms and presented in different media.

“It’s been a radio play, a stage play, a film, an audiobook, a graphic novel – and now comes this version for television.

“In recent years we’ve seen the way that long stories on television, whether adaptations (Game of Thrones) or original (The Sopra­nos, The Wire), can reach depths of characterisation and heights of suspense by taking the time for events to make their proper imp­act and for consequences to ­unr­avel.”

Mr Pullman began plotting his masterpiece whilst living in north Wales in the region which inspired him to become a writer.