An aspiring author has seen the fulfilment of his ambition as his first novel has been published.

James Erith described his first attempts at writing novels ending in spectacular failure.

But through perseverance, a bit of tough love and some unexpected inspiration, he has now completed the first in a series of the Eden Chronicles.

Mr Erith, 43, who lives in Lamarsh, had originally hoped to pursue a cricketing career but his hopes were thwarted when he dived into a swimming pool in Australia and hit his head on a step cracking the vertebrae in his neck.

He returned home and took up a career in landscape gardening.

However, he had always yearned to write.