A PUBLISHED children’s author returned to County Durham to talk to schoolchildren about his two greatest passions – writing and nature.

Tom Moorhouse is both a children’s writer and an ecologist and told 160 pupils gathered at Polam Hall School in Darlington that when it comes to writing stories, they should write about the things that interest them the most.

In his case, it happens to be water voles.

The Durham University graduate, originally from Barnard Castle, works as a researcher in the Zoology Department at Oxford University where he has developed a special interest in these delicate river creatures.

It was his own scientific research into their threatened habitats that formed the basis of his two critically acclaimed children’s novels ‘The River singers’ and ‘The Rising’.

Polam Hall pupils heard how the books follow the trials and tribulations of two water vole characters, Kale and Strife; stories that reflect Tom’s work in the real world where, as part of Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, he successfully reintroduced seven new populations of water voles to the Upper Thames.

He said he had an overwhelming fascination for these particular creatures and identified with their plight – so much so that imaginary adventures just kept coming into his head.

Polam Hall’s headmaster, John Moreland, said the talk gave a revealing insight into the life and imagination of a professional children’s writer.

He said: “We are very grateful that Tom has taken the time to come along and inspire the children in this way.

“Many of them are already familiar with his books and hopefully his visit will have helped them to understand more about the natural world and encourage them to write their own animal stories.”