A NOVEL based on an historic Darwen landmark has been snapped up by the town's library bosses.

Four copies of Silent Light, written by author Chris May, from Wiltshire, have been ordered to help fill the shelves at Darwen Library, in Knott Street.

Family man Chris, 39, who got the idea for his 'eerie thriller' after spending four weeks in Darwen as part of a university placement in 1985 when he was studying a post-graduate engineering course at Cambridge University, hoped the book would become a nationwide bestseller when he launched it last month. He based the story around Darwen Tower after becoming so intrigued by the ancient monument when he went on a trip to the moors and noticed a mysterious jogger who seemed to disappear in the mist.

About a third of the book is set in the town, with four or five chapters being set on the moors above Darwen Tower and one specific chapter created in the Millstone pub, in Church Street -- where Chris spent his four-week stay when it was used for accommodation purposes and another set in Darwen library.

Today Chris said he was delighted at the success his first published masterpiece had achieved after it clocked up 300 sales doand said: "I can't believe the response it's had. It's only just starting to die off now.

"I got rid of a batch in the first few days and the library ordered in another few. Then I've been having orders constantly each day after that. They've even been coming in from as far afield as South Wales. I'm amazed how much interest it's had. It's done really well."

Staff at Darwen Library confirmed they had ordered four copies of the book.