A carpenter whose diary of his round-the-world tour became an internet hit is to publish a journal of his adventures.

Andy Ramus made a spur of the moment decision to set off on his travels after wandering into a travel agent in Brighton.

He kept a journal in a series of schoolbooks while back-packing around Australasia, South East Asia and America during his 17-month trip.

When he returned two years ago Andy (known to friends as Wolf E Boy) began typing up his entries and posting them on his website, www.wolf-e-boy.com.

The website proved so popular - receiving up to 4,000 hits per month - that Andy's colourful tale is now being published as a hardback book by Book Guild Publishing in Brighton.

The book is a warts-and-all account of the ups and downs of backpacking life, from full moon parties in Koh Phangan to a stint living in a cupboard under the stairs of an over-populated, rat-infested share house in Sydney.

The 43-year-old, who has lived in Shoreham Beach all his life, said the stories in the book are taken straight from life.

He said: "Everything in the book really happened and I haven't changed any names. I've kept in touch with quite a few of the people who are mentioned in the book and I let them know whenever their bits went up on the website, and they all seemed quite happy about it.

"I've found I'm much better at writing about my own life than making up stories from my imagination."

He said he never imagined his diaries would be read by so many people.

He said: "I was always too hyperactive to keep a journal when I was younger but this was the trip of a lifetime so I wanted to record it and I'm really glad I did.

"It has helped me to remember things I would otherwise have forgotten."

Andy, who was an apprentice boat builder at Emerald Quay when he left school and now works as a site carpenter, is no stranger to literary life.

He has self-published two books - one a memoir of his boyhood spent on Shoreham Beach, and a novel about a group of friends on the rave scene.

He also writes rhyming tales and recently posted an account of a friend's stag weekend in Krakow.

Although he is content to be back in Shoreham for now, he hopes to take on another adventure one day.

He said: "I'd like to try South America next, and I'll definitely be keeping a journal again."

Bangkok to BC by Wolf E Boy is available priced £16.99 from April 26.