AN author and illustrator has just finished his latest book – and it features more nods to the area where he lives.

Douglas Smith, from Old Hall, has penned The Chicken Rustlers.

The children’s story tells the tale of tale of the Crumbles family and their remarkable chickens who lay golden eggs.

But a mystery soon develops and the police become involved.

The story includes references to Winwick, Lancashire and even the Warrington Guardian.

It is the third work to have been published by Mr Smith after The Winwick Witch and the Golden Pig – inspired by the legend of the Winwick pig at St Oswald’s church and Winwick and Tikle the Hoglet, which aims to help children cross the road safely.

Douglas, a dad-of-two, said the story and the beautiful artwork which accompanies them in the book is the result of a lot of hard work.

He added: “The most difficult part is going through the editing stage.

“You write something and then look at it and make changes and write it again.

“You can be your own toughest critic actually and sometimes you almost feel like you will never be satisfied when you read it back.

“But I am pleased with the final result.

“Each of the illustrations takes me about a day to complete.

“I like to go into my conservatory and work on them.”

Now he has finished the book, he is waiting for the final copies to come back from the publishers.

There are 11 illustrations in this book, including one which features St Oswald’s in Winwick.

Previous books have been handed to primary schools in the area and have gone on sale in shops and garden centres in Warrington.