A PRIMARY school teacher is hoping to inspire the next generation of writers after self-publishing his first book.

Ian Hornett, who spent ten years at Gosbecks Primary School but now works as a supply teacher, is set to release the first part of trilogy, Quarton: The Bridge, via Amazon.

Two years ago the 54-year-old decided to take a leap of faith and quit his full time job at the Owen Ward Close school in order to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a writer.

He said: "I have always been interested in writing but I hadn't done much about it before.

"I had always wanted to write a book but I did not have an idea.

"Then I went on holiday to New Zealand and the beautiful scenery inspired me."

Mr Hornett is also a keen fitness fanatic and in 2017 walked ten marathons to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.

He says he used this time walking to help develop the idea for his first book, and also managed to raise thousands of pounds along the way.

"I met a lot of people who had been living with prostate cancer who were inspiration to me in terms of not giving up on anything," he said.

"This has certainly helped to keep me going when I lack motivation to write.

"It was a difficult decision to give up full time teaching because I enjoy working with children.

"We had to look at whether we could afford it as well.

"But I felt if I was going to take it seriously I would have to stop working full time."

Mr Hornett, who lives in Mile End, is aiming at the young adult market with his first book series but has several other ideas in the pipeline.

"It is a science fiction type of book and a story about reincarnation told through different characters over 5,000 years," he said.

"I have already written the second part of the trilogy but that needs editing.

"Because I teach primary school children I am also writing two shortish stories for ten to 12 year olds.

"I really think being a teacher has helped. I have taught writing and I know the process.

"You also need perseverance, which is one of the main things we teach at primary school."

Quarton: The Bridge is available as an ebook via Amazon now.