ARMED forces charity SSAFA is using a late author’s book to raise much needed funds and keep her memory alive.

Tricia Walker, from Northallerton, published her debut novel ‘Benedict’s Brother’ in 2007 after it lay in a drawer for several years following an early rejection.

It went onto become a best-selling book and has also inspired a soon-to-be released film.

SSAFA has joined with Benedict’s Appeal, a fund aiming to raise more than £40,000 to support members of the military community.

For every copy sold £3 will be donated to SSAFA, which helps veterans and their families.

Benedict’s Brother tells the story of a young woman whose late uncle leaves a request for her to scatter his ashes from the River Kwai.

Without knowing his past, she goes on to discover that he was a former Japanese PoW in the Second World War.

Ms Walker, the daughter of Heartbeat author Nicholas Rhea, died of cancer in January.

For more information visit benedictsappeal.co.uk.