FRED Dibnah has become an honorary doctor for the second time -- but he still does not know what all the fuss is about.

The celebrity steeplejack has been awarded an honorary doctorate in technology from Birmingham University to add to the one he received in 2000 from The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.

But the 65-year-old, who was awarded the MBE in the New Year Honours List, says he never expected to be awarded the first title -- never mind the second.

"I didn't see it coming," he said. "Especially when I was third from the bottom of the class at St Michael's School all those years ago, being an absolute failure.

"I asked if I could have a degree in backstreet mechanics, but they said they didn't do them, so I'd have to have technology.

"But I don't even understand modern technology. It's all made in far away countries and they put all these complicated symbols on. It doesn't really mean anything to me."

Fred also admits that he thought the doctorates were a joke at first.

He said: "I thought they were kidding. But I turned up, they gave me a cardboard tube, a funny hat and a red robe and said: 'There you go, you're doctor Fred'."

Since receiving his MBE, Fred has been inundated with letters of congratulation from hundreds of enthusiasts, including Donald Jackson, the official scribe to the Queen, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Cliff Morris.

Mrs Jowell wrote to say that she had enjoyed watching Fred's "informative and amusing" television programmes, especially about the working mineshaft in his back garden, and expressed her gratitude at Fred having "done much to generate public interest in the heritage of Britain".

But Fred, who lives in Radcliffe Road, Darcy Lever, has yet to start adding the relevant letters after his name.

He said: "I've only written MBE after my name a couple of times when someone has specifically asked that I do."

And he is in no rush to start calling himself Doctor Dibnah, even though he has earned the title twice. He said: "I'm not that vain."

But despite his countless achievements over the years, there is still one thing Fred wishes he had done.

"I should have studied more at school, with arithmetic and that sort of thing. So I could work things out better," he said.

"All my measuring and calculating is done with my hands and fingers, not my brain."

The father of six, who has hosted several TV series about Britain's industrial heritage, is currently creating the working mineshaft at the rear of his home.

He hopes that he will eventually be allowed to open the feature to the public -- if Bolton planners agree.