A FORMER sports editor on the Lancashire Telegraph has achieved a lifelong ambition by publishing his first children’s mystery book on Kindle.

Paul Plunkett, 45, is the author of Teen Idol Terror (A Jenny Johnson Mystery), which reached the top 50 for children’s books on Amazon.

In the book, the first in a series, Jenny is the daughter of a well-known newspaper investigator who solves celebrity crimes.

He named the character after his daughter Jenny, 13, who gave him tips on what her generation enjoyed reading while he harked back to his own favourite adventure stories from the 1960s and 1970s.

“When I was young, I read four or five books a week from the library. I grew up on books by Enid Blyton such as The Secret Seven, the Famous Five and The Hardy Boys. Nobody read a book that wasn't part of a series.

“I have basically gone back to that tradition to get kids reading stories which inspired me. One reviewer in America said it was the Enid Blyton for the 21st century.”

He also drew on his 22 years’ experience as a journalist in East Lancashire, including nine years covering Blackburn Rovers and Burnley at the Lancashire Telegraph, to come up with characters in the book.

Paul, who lives in Cliviger, said: “Having worked at the Telegraph and seeing some of the investigations and crimes we reported on, I used some of that as background and characters like police officers.”

Paul, who is now assistant editor on BBC Sport based in Salford, said the book was the culmination of two lifelong dreams.

He said: “Growing up I always wanted to be a journalist covering the Olympics and write a book.

“So when I got home on the final day of the Games I published it online. I achieved both amibitions in one night!”

Paul is now working on his second book centred on a Premiership footballer which will be on sale for Christmas.

Teen Idol Terror is available to download for the kindle users at www.amazon. co.uk/Terror-Jenny-John son-Mystery-ebook.