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

Tricia Walker, who was born in 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 on to become sell widely 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 and former D&S writer Nicholas Rhea and sister of D&S Countryman's Daughter writer Sarah Walker, died of cancer in January.

For more information visit benedictsappeal.co.uk.