A RETIRED teacher has fulfilled a lifelong ambition by writing a book about growing up in East Lancashire.

Edward Campbell, 60, of Lower Darwen, thought he should write about what he knew -- so took inspiration from his own childhood in Nelson in the post-war years.

His novel Two For A Penny tells of the adventures of fictional character Tommy Calvert, although Ted admitted the line between his experiences and Tommy's had become somewhat blurred.

He said: "It took me almost a whole year to write the book and I soon realised it was much easier to write from my own experiences of growing up.

"Like myself, Tommy lived in Nelson after moving there from Liverpool after the war and his dad works in the Victory V sweets factory. It is a gentle story about life, full of nostalgia.

"For those people of a similar age to me will bring back lots of memories."

The geography of Nelson is easy to follow as most of the streets mentioned still exist. There is Marsden Park, with its open-air pool, and Tommy watches Nelson gala from the balcony of the Lord Nelson hotel.

The book is already proving popular with local readers -- which is a relief for Ted as he paid for it to be published.

Blackburn and Burnley libraries have taken copies and it can be bought from Blackburn with Darwen Tourist Office.

Ted added: "My publishers, Athena, have been really positive and even suggested taking it to America. It is hopefully also going to be stocked on online store Amazon, so who knows who will end up learning what life in East Lancashire was like."