A special effects expert has completed a remarkable journey from Eynsham to Hollywood - by picking up an Oscar.

Ben Morris, 37, who went to the village's Bartholomew School and whose parents live in Park Lane, Appleton, collected the gong for his contribution to The Golden Compass.

The Academy Award for best visual effects went to his company Framestore's work on the screen adaptation of Northern Lights, the first book of Cumnor author Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy.

Mr Morris said he was "knocked out" - and described the honour as "the greatest thrill imaginable".

Framestore provided many of the digital effects used in the film, including giant polar bear Iorek - voiced by Sir Ian McKellen - his evil arch-enemy Ragnar and the icy environment in which they all live.

Mr Morris said: "When Chris Weitz and Mike Fink (director and special effects supervisor) said they regarded Iorek as a true co-star and expected an accordingly strong performance from him, we knew we had got our work cut out. That we achieved this - and to Oscar level - is the greatest thrill imaginable. We are all completely knocked out."

Father-of-three Mr Morris's success at the 80th Academy Awards in Los Angeles marked something of a family celebration.

Scenes for the film were shot in Oxford using camera systems made by Botley-based Oxford Metric Group, which is run by his father Julian. He said: "I am thrilled and delighted for Ben.

"I spoke to him almost as soon as he walked off stage and he said he was thrilled, but exhausted."

Since its release in December last year, The Golden Compass - which stars Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig - has scooped a host of industry honours.

After leaving Bartholomew School, Mr Morris studied engineering at Bristol University - and left with a first class honours degree.

Last night, family friend Charles Woodward, 64, who knew Ben when his parents lived in Evans Road, Eynsham, said: "From the age of seven he knew exactly what he wanted to do, which was computer graphics, but back then it was modelling and animation.

"When he saw Star Wars he was fascinated. That was when we knew he was hooked."

The visual effects used in The Golden Compass were also recognised at the Bafta awards earlier this month.

The double victory came against stiff competition, with the film beating Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - which both used American effects companies.

Terry Pearce, head of PE at Bartholomew School added: "Ben is warmly remembered by staff who taught him and we wish him congratulations."