FORMER prime minister Gordon Brown has been honoured for his “special work” trying to ensure every child across the world can attend school.

Brown was named as the latest recipient of an award scheme set up by Norwegian novellist Jo Nesbo to recognise those who are “simply doing good things”.

The ex-Labour leader said he would give the £200,000 cash prize from the Harry Hole Prize – named after Nesbo’s most famous fictional detective – to children’s charity Theirworld.

His wife Sarah Brown is president of the organisation, which works to give young people across the globe a better future.

A spokesman for the Harry Hole Foundation said: “Gordon Brown has done such special work on financing education in the world’s poorest countries.”