A RETIRED vicar has used his witty sense of humour to write a book of short stories based on his 'observations of life'.

Jeffrey's Shorts provides an intriguing tour of the stranger sides of life through the 'curious, tenderly and perceptively drawn characters.'

The man behind the book, Rev Geoffrey Crees, of Popes Hill, has – with the help of his wife Jean – compiled 20 stories.

He said: "My wife has had the tough job of typing up my awful writing to form a book. It has taken me three years on and off to write the book. I'd like to think it has some funny stories, for example, the instance where a barbecue took place on a campsite in Luxembourg and somebody complained about the smell of smoke to which they ended up extinguishing it by pouring a watering can over it."

Mr Crees was a rector in Swindon before he moved to the Forest in 1999.

He added: "While I was living in Swindon working as a rector, I had written a book called Where was God last Friday? which sold 3,000 copies. The book was about the tragic death of five local lads who had been killed in a road accident in 1991.

"I am hoping this book will sell just as well."

To pick up a copy visit Coleford Book Shop.