THE debut novel by an East Lancashire author was today shortlisted for the prestigious Booker literary prize.

The Underground Man, by Great Harwood-born Mick Jackson, 37, is one of six works in contention for the most coveted of all the English language fiction prizes, to be awarded in London on October 14.

Mick, who now lives in Brighton, grew up in Allsprings Drive, Great Harwood, and was educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn, where he described himself as "an exceptionally poor student."

Today his sister Hilary said: "He phoned last night to tell me he had been shortlisted and was very excited."

Mick's Picador-published book is based loosely on the life of The Duke of Portland, an eccentric man who dug a series of tunnels around his Nottinghamshire estate.

After leaving Great Harwood aged 18, Mick had a spell touring Europe and America in little-known rock bands The Screaming Ab Dabs and The Dinner Ladies.

A writing course run by author Malcolm Bradbury at the University of East Anglia convinced him to try a different path and Mick now divides his time between writing novels and scripting documentary films.

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