A DEPUTY mayor has officially launched his first children’s book – based on his love of Scammell lorries.

Councillor Stuart Bird, 48, has penned The Ghost Train, based on adventures enjoyed by animated Scammell lorries and their drivers.

Coun Bird, who is Deputy Mayor of Shildon, officially launched his book at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon. Artist Kevin Stephens, of the Art Room NorthEast, provided the drawings for the book while staff at the museum gave technical support to ensure accuracy.

Coun Bird, 48, said: “We had an absolutely fantastic day and we sold more than 40 books. It could not have gone better and we’ve had a tremendous amount of support from people and we are very grateful for that.”

Coun Bird’s love of the heavy duty recovery and haulage Scammells stems from the early 1980s when he regularly saw one on his way to work. The book is the first in a proposed Scammell Stories series which has been penned for six to 11-yearolds. Coun Bird, of Dale Road, Shildon, is writing the second book in the series which will be called Tyre Fitters. The book is priced £4.95 and is on sale at Locomotion and at scammellstories.co.uk.