A renowned Oxford author who imagined a world without people has won a prestigious award for scientific writing.

Mark Lynas beat off stiff competition to win the 2008 Royal Society Science Books Prize, and received the award at a ceremony in London.

The author, of Upper Wolvercote, picked up £10,000 for his book Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet, which explores what might happen if temperatures rise due to global warming.

Mr Lynas, 35, said: "To be recognised by an institution like the Royal Society, which is one of the most important scientific institutions in the whole world, is a delight and a tremendous honour for me.

"I was delighted, but even more surprised because William Hill the bookmakers had announced I was least likely to win at 6-1.

"If I had had a flutter, I would be even better off today!"

Six Degrees is Mr Lynas's third book and was researched at the Radcliffe Science Library in Parks Road.

About 15,000 people have bought a copy of the book, which lays out the threat of environmental Armageddon - including the destruction of the human race - by 2100.

The book was also turned into a TV programme by National Geographic and watched by tens of millions.

Mr Lynas said: "It has been much more successful than I had anticipated. Obviously, global warming is a huge topic today.

"A lot of people now recognise it is the most important challenge humanity faces.

"This is a book for a popular audience, which ordinary people can understand. It is actually readable - unlike a lot of academic scientific literature."

The chairman of the Royal Society judges, Prof Jonathan Ashmore, said: "Lynas gives us a compelling and gripping view of how climate change could affect our world.

"It presents a series of scientifically plausible, worst-case scenarios without tipping into hysteria.

"Six Degrees is not just a great read, written in an original way, but also provides a good overview of the latest science on this highly topical issue.

"This is a book that will stimulate debate and that will, Lynas hopes, move us to action in the hope that this is a disaster movie that never happens.

"Everyone should read this book."