A LOCAL children's author has launched his first series of books.

Brian Fearn, of Monmouth, was at the Rossiter's Book Shop in Monmouth on Saturday signing copies of his first three books titled 'The Cobble Street Rats', which is based on the adventures of a gang of rats.

The carpenter started writing books two years ago and has almost completed his first novel which he hopes will be out by autumn 2014.

He said: "I have always been interested in writing books and have already written 17 books but only published three. My inspiration for the books came from a shopping trip. I was stood outside a shop on a cobbled street and noticed a rat running along and it was from there my imagination ran away with me.

"I love writing and if I could I would take it up as a full-time career – it is really addictive and I just get lost in a different world."

Copies of Brian's books can be found at the Rossiter's Book Shop in Monmouth