YOU probably won't recognise his name, but the chances are, if you've been drinking in Lancaster's pubs or university bars during the past decade or so, that you would recognise Lancaster's latest and, potentially, greatest contribution to the world of literature... Ian Marchant.

The unassuming Mr Marchant, a Lancaster graduate, enjoyed considerable success with his first book, In Southern Waters, and now returns to the North with his latest work, The Battle for Dole Acre.

It is set in the fictional city of Pancester which, geographically at least, bears a startling resemblance to Lancaster, where the book was written.

The story centres on TV chef Terry Whittaker who, spurned by his lover and sacked by his boss, stumbles upon Pancester and sees an opportunity to pursue his love of cooking -- and develops an obsession with the local tourism officer.

He then finds himself drawn in to the battle of the book's title, a fight to save the local donkey sanctuary (and site of a bizarre annual fertility ritual) from becoming a car park.

Marchant has a laid back writing style which isn't bound by the conventions of traditional literature.

While his fictional Pancester undoubtedly has its roots in Lancaster, he isn't afraid to let his imagination run wild, creating enough quirky characters to keep a medium sized town in business.

His central character manages to remain a sympathetic local hero, despite stalking two women and leaving his dying father's bedside out of boredom.

Marchant's wit and intelligence shines through in a book that deserves to succeed. We await our own local hero's next foray into print with eager anticipation.