A ROYAL Marine reservist is hoping his latest children’s book will be staged at a Darlington theatre.

Steven Corner, of Ferryhill, County Durham, is currently in talks with the Majestic Theatre about transforming his second kid’s book, the Twelve Ghouls of Halloween, into a play.

The writer hopes to involve performing arts students from Darlington College, where he is a lecturer in engineering.

Published by Rosendale Books this year, the story was inspired by Mr Corner’s two young nieces and follows two girls, Mia and Jaelyn, on a quest to outwit twelve ghouls in a bid to save Halloween.

Mr Corner said: “I hope my niece can be part of the play if it happens since she is featured as one of the main characters in my book.”

A novelist in his spare time, Mr Corner has now written five books and is already working on his sixth, called Solamy Pirates.

Twelve Ghouls of Halloween is available online from Amazon and Waterstones.