The Addingham journalist whose exclusive interviews with Royal butler Paul Burrell have rocked the world has spoken about life "inside the whirlwind".

Former Ilkley Gazette reporter Steve Dennis, now with the Mirror, was catapulted into the public eye when his interviews with Princess Diana's butler went public three weeks ago.

An experienced writer, Mr Dennis is used to chasing celebrities around to feed the ever-hungry media industry - but has now found himself hounded for quotes and pictures.

The 31-year-old, who was born and raised in Addingham, admits the contrast has been "surreal".

He told the Gazette: "It's been really different because I've been on the other side of the fence for years, I'm used to being on the press side with all the paparazzi and the reporters.

"This is the first time I've been on the other side and it is a bit of a surreal experience because it has been one of those world wide stories which has gathered its own momentum.

"The first week was just sensational, being in the centre of a whirlwind, just manic. But when you start getting messages of support from within Buckingham Palace the enormity of that is hard to comprehend.

"It has been an incredible three weeks - it's a little like being at the wheel of a juggernaut which won't stop."

The former Ilkley Grammar School pupil befriended Mr Burrell around five years ago and says he has watched his friend and his family go through a tough last two years.

During that time the erstwhile Royal butler has been investigated by the police and put on trial at the Old Bailey charged with stealing hundreds of items belonging to Diana.

But Mr Burrell was cleared of the allegations earlier this month thanks to the dramatic, and late, intervention of the Queen.

Mr Dennis says he has relished the chance to help his friend tell his side of the story - and that he has known from the beginning how important the task was.

He said: "By day two or three of the interviews with Paul I knew that we were re-writing history as far as the Diana years were concerned, which was a heck of a thing to get to grips with.

"Then, what with all of the writing, it started snowballing into this much wider issue. But Paul Burrell never caused the fallout which led to the new Royal inquiry - that was caused by the Old Bailey trial.

"It has been a privilege to be part of it as far as Paul is concerned because he's a friend and it is great in this job to be able to stand up and publicly defend someone with the truth."

Describing his global scoop as a "once in a lifetime" experience, Mr Dennis recalls with amazement the scene which greeted them both as they walked through Times Square in New York.

"This guy brought New York to a standstill," he said. "We were surrounded by a 50-strong media scrum and yellow taxi cab drivers were stopping and getting out of their cars to have a look at him.

"People were coming out of shops to see who it was and it was like being in the eye of a storm.

"We were at a secret location for the interviews and just got on with it, we watched very little television. So this was very weird, a completely different perspective."

Mr Dennis is now looking forward to taking some time out back in his North Yorkshire home - and to a few games of golf with family and friends in Addingham.

"I've come back to find where I last left my life!," he says. "After all Paul's been through he could probably do with a walk across Ilkley Moor, too - he certainly deserves it!"

Speculation about a forthcoming 'Paul Burrell' book based on the events and revelations of the last few weeks is rife, but Mr Dennis, for the moment, is saying nothing.

"I have no plans at all," he said. "I just want to chill out and spend some time with family and friends and then see what the New Year brings."