Fighting back their tears, students gave their personal tributes to renowned horror writer James Herbert who was due to headline their literary festival tonight.

The author of The Rats and The Magic Cottage accepted Middlesex University students’ invitation to attend their North London Literary Festival where he planned to speak about his latest book Ash.

Student Laura Haytack said: “Sending out the letter to James Herbert’s agency I genuinely didn’t anticipate much of a response from the grand master of fiction. When I received an email a few days later from his agent I couldn’t wait to tell the rest of the festival committee James Herbert was coming to Middlesex University.”

The students began to research questions to ask Herbert about his life and career. He wrote a total of 23 books which sold more than 54 million copies worldwide with his first novel, The Rats, selling 100,000 copies within just two weeks of being published in 1974.

But as their excitement was growing, the news broke of his death. The 69-year-old died peacefully in his bed last Wednesday.

Super fan and creative writing student Lucy Danby, 22, said: “I cried. I felt selfish because I was so disappointed I wouldn’t get to meet him. He’s my hero.

“When I was about 11 or 12, I read The Dark – it was one of the first grown up horror books I’d read.  I didn’t think it would freak me out but when I turned the light out I was petrified. I still have the book – it’s so battered it doesn’t have a front or back cover or even a spine I’ve read it so much.

“He has definitely influenced my writing and he is someone I will always aspire to.”

To mark Herbert’s death the students decided to host their very own tribute evening in his honour.

Paying homage to her idol, Lucy said: “We know that he was a remarkable character who had a heart of gold and a fantastic sense of humour. Immortalised by his words he will live on through his stories and in our hearts.”

The students also showcased tributes they had recorded from other authors and friends of James Herbert including his biographer Craig Cabell and fellow horror writer David Bloom.

Mr Cabell said: “I spoke to him two days before he died and he was talking about coming to the festival – he was very keen and upbeat about it.

“He was very in tune with his fans – if his fans wrote to him he took the time to write back. He was very generous with his time.

“He was a lovely guy.”