A CANVEY author has published her second book, with the help of local junior school pupils.

Marion Cunningham, 72, of Harrow Road, called on pupils at Kents Hill Junior School, Benfleet, to provide the 25 illustrations needed for The Adventures of Chip Chihuahua.

This week saw her go to the school and present awards to the 18 pupils whose sketches contributed to the book.

Mrs Cunningham said: “I had a wonderful time with the children.

“They absolutely loved it and they have their certificates and copies of the book. It made it all worthwhile.”

Mrs Cunningham, whose granddaughter, Ria Grice, 26, teaches at the school, came up with the idea of involving the pupils as she was having trouble finding an illustrator.

The inspiration for the story came from Mrs Grice’s dogs, Chip and Bailey, back in December 2014.

Mrs Cunningham said: “Ria had dressed one of them in this bumble bee outfit. I said ‘take it off – it looks ridiculous’. My daughter eventually came up with an idea and said ‘why don’t you write a book about the dogs it would make a good story’.”

The idea of Chip, one of the Chihuahuas, going on an adventure soon developed, even incorporating a bumble bee.

Mrs Cunningham, a genealogist for 30 years, believes her thirst for information and life-long passion for writing has been behind her success.

She said: “It’s just my imagination.

"I might be lying in bed and suddenly get an idea and start writing. I'm not a famous author, I just enjoy writing.

“I never had a real education, I failed my 11 plus and get by with the help of spellchecker on the computer.”

Her first book was based on the true story of her Grandfather, Jesse Frederick Warren, signing up to Lord Kitchener’s Army to provide his wife Amelia and two young daughters, Elizabeth and Beatrice, with food and a better future.

It goes onto describes family life after the war and how Jesse survived the Somme against all the odds.