CORONAVIRUS creativity has led a family to create a book of Lancashire walks they had enjoyed before the Covid-19 lockdown.

Keen rambler Michael Geddes, 78, was stuck in his Cherry Tree Blackburn home when his 23-year-old granddaughter Megan Longworth cheered him up with stories of the walks they had enjoyed together.

As a result they started to share their exploits and tales with other virtually.

Michael, an electrical circuit design engineer, then used his digital technology lessons with Age UK to create new walks for her to try.

His wife Barbara, 78, asked if they could document them for others to see.

This is when Blackburn with Darwen Council support worker Megan from Ewood had the idea of recording the walks in a volume with maps for friends and family.

Over four months the two worked together over WhatsApp and email to produce the book.

Annie Geddes (Michael’s youngest granddaughter aged 23 in Blackpool) got involved creating illustrations of Michael’s photos.

Megan jokingly suggested the title ‘The One-Eyed Wanderer’ and her grandad, who had previously had an eye removed due to a benign tumour, agreed.

Michael said: “For the last 12 years I’ve walked weekly with a friend and always wrote up the walks. Overall, I’ve over 450. So to be asked by my granddaughter during lockdown to write a book with just a few of my local walks was a great idea. It brought back many memories. I really enjoyed doing this as a family.”

Megan said: “I’ve always been intrigued to publish my grandpa’s walks. When we were forced into lockdown, I thought this would be an obvious opportunity.

"Our family is a close knit-one, however I feel the book has brought us even closer.”

Annie added: "It’s truly been a joy to be able to collaborate with my family on a book - something I would have never considered achievable during a pandemic. As a creative, full-time carer and autistic adult; it’s been great for my mental health.

"This has provided me with the perfect opportunity to showcase my style as an illustrator."

The book features eight different walks in Lancashire, with a mixture of long and short routes. All profits will go to Age UK Blackburn with Darwen.

Copies are available by emailing theoneeyedwanderer.co@outlook.com. There is a suggested donation of £2 or £3 plus postage.