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

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

Coun Bird, who is deputy mayor on Shildon Town Council, officially launched his book at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon on Saturday. (February 16)

Artist Kev Stephens, of The Art Room North East, 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 nearly 45 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-11-year-olds.

Coun Bird, of Dale Road, in Shildon, is writing the second book in the series which will be called Tyre Fitters.

The Ghost Train is priced £4.95 and it is on sale at Locomotion and at scammellstories.co.uk