The children's author Michael Morpurgo has revealed he has been treated for cancer.

But the 74-year-old, most famous for the book War Horse, says he is lucky he has only become unwell later in life, when so many others have fallen ill and died younger.

Mr Morpurgo, who taught a Wickhambreaux Primary School near Canterbury, writes in this week's Spectator magazine: "You cope because you have to. You know it’s what happens to us all.

"You’ve been lucky all these years. Now it’s your turn.

"Friends and family much younger have been ill, and suffered long; some have fallen off the perch younger than I am now. I’ve been a lucky old parrot."

Mr Morpurgo, who attended King's School in Canterbury from 1957 to 1962, is best-known for writing War Horse, which marked its 10th anniversary since being adapted for the stage last year.

It has become the most successful play in the National Theatre's history.

It began its 10th anniversary tour at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury last year, where Mr Morpurgo's parents met as actors in 1938.

His family was scarred by the Second World War and that inspired him to write War Horse, about a boy's attempts to save his horse during the Second World War.

It has also been successfully adapted for film.

Mr Morpurgo explained he has been given radiotherapy at the Royal Marsden Hospital in south London.

It has been reported that he was treated last year and believes he has "excellent" prospects for recovery.

He said he learned to trust the doctors and nurses and kept positive thoughts.

But while being treated he thought of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the youngsters he coached in his near-10 years as a teacher.

He wrote: "All of these young people gave me great cause for hope, for rejoicing."

He says he has been lucky enough to meet ex-pupils and found they have become parents and had successful careers, for example becoming doctors, teachers and cooks.

He says that all those children were all the hope he needed while lying in the Marsden being healed.

He wrote: " It was the memories of those children. They helped me through, helped me to keep hoping, keep believing. They still do, every day."

Mr Morpurgo, who now lives in Devon, was Children's Laureate from 2003 to 2005.