TALES of talking squirrels are set to delight youngsters when a local author publishes her first children's book this month.

Abbots Langley writer Doreen Cooper recently found success when she published a booklet sharing her memories of Langleybury and Hunton Bridge in the last century.

Now the 75-year-old is hoping to emulate that success with the release of a children's book.

"I was encouraged by the unexpected success of the history booklet so I decided to publish a children's book called The Round Squirrel, which is for children aged four to six years old," Mrs Cooper said.

"Although the squirrels speak and are a little humanised I have aimed at teaching a little about ways of the woodland creatures that they meet as they grow up."

Plans for another booklet entitled Rory The Fox are in the pipeline, with Mrs Cooper hoping to finish the story in time for Christmas.

"I used to tell stories to my children when they were small but I never got as far as publishing them," she said.

Both collections of stories should be available to buy before the end of the year.