MICHAEL Palin confirmed his status as a national treasure when he visited Borders in Bournemouth on his latest book tour.

Hundreds of people of all ages patiently lined up around the store at lunchtime to have copies of his latest travel tome, New Europe, signed by the man who could lay claim to the title of Britain's best-loved comedian, television presenter and writer.

Some had been waiting for hours. Dee Blamey of Southbourne in Bournemouth was at the head of the queue. "I've been here since 9 o'clock. I loved him when he was on Monty Python," she explained.

Jayne Cuff of Kinson had only been waiting for two-and-a-half hours.

"I just didn't want to miss him," she said.

"He does my travelling for me. Himalaya was my favourite," she said.

Nick Holmes, from Bourne-mouth's East Cliff, had brought along an original film poster from the Pythons' last feature film, the Meaning of Life, and Palin added his signature to that of Terry Jones.

Although he had been in a back room of the store for about an hour signing books before emerging to meet his fans, Palin spent at least another hour signing in public. Onlookers stared and crowded around the desk to take photographs, but not once did his good humour flag.

"I think you're wonderful," called out one passing woman customer.

"Speak up," he responded.

"You look just the same in person," she continued.

"A little younger?" suggested a twinkling Palin.

The book, which accompanies Michael Palin's latest BBC television series, covers 12,000 miles of travelling around 20 countries.

Filming started in the Julian Alps of Slovenia in May last year and ended in the Baltic nearly a year later.