Poirot star David Suchet is voted an honorary Belgian

He may be a fictional character, and one created by a British writer.

But Hercule Poirot has long been claimed by Belgium as its own, perhaps understandably, considering the country has a rather limited number of celebrities.

Now the love affair for Agatha Christie's dapper detective and his "little grey cells" has gone a stage further — the actor who plays him has been named an Honorary Famous Belgian.

David Suchet was presented with the rare accolade at a ceremony held by the Belgian tourist board. The actor, who has received a number of awards during his career, said this one would take pride of place on his mantelpiece. He said: "One must not forget that Belgium came before Hercule Poirot."

Suchet, 64, who lives in Pinner, started playing the part for the ITV drama series in 1989. Other actors who have played Poirot include Peter
Ustinov and Albert Finney.

The award was presented at the British Guild of Travel Writers' annual awards dinner at the Savoy hotel by Françoise Scheepers, director of the Belgian Tourist Office-Brussels and sponsor Wallonia, and by Christos Doulkeridis, minister in charge of tourism for the Brussels region.

Ms Scheepers said: "We have decided to launch the first of the Belgian Tourist Office-Brussels & Wallonia's Honorary Famous Belgian Awards and it is particularly important that our first award should go to one of Belgium's most remarkable and beloved icons."

Other famous Belgians include Tintin creator Hergé, painter Rubens, surrealist artist René Magritte, cyclist Eddy Merckx and actor Jean Claude Van Damme.