AN ex-dental company director has sunk his teeth into writing poetry.

Leigh man Phil Isherwood's first book "Life Behind the Petunias" has just been published by Towpath Press.

It offers the fresh and funny, punchy and provocative.

A committed Christian, Phil (pictured) of Pennington, former managing director of his own company - Dental Linkline Ltd, Leigh, until 1997 - only started to write 10 years ago after discovering that God loved him.

His wife, Barbara, who illustrated the book, is a petunia fan and it's from there that the idea for the title germinated. A father-of-four, Phil, found his work could make people cry - in the nicest possible way - so he started a writing course at University College, Warrington.

He said: "The desire to explore the spiritual impact of creative writing makes this part of my Christian ministry, and I constantly draw on my work in the church for inspiration."

Phil, 50, is now planning to start a training course as a Reader in the Church of England.

He previously worked in ergonomics research in Loughborough from 1971-76, in the Health Services in Sheffield and Chesterfield between 1976-79 when he came back to Leigh to start his own successful company.

Best selling author Adrian Plass said: "Life Behind the Petunias is an intriguing mix of wit and craft. Read and savour these poems, they will more than repay your time."

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