A 10-year-old schoolgirl from Uley has joined the ranks of J.K Rowling and Roald Dahl by becoming a popular children's author.

Rosie Hawes, a pupil at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Nympsfield, has had 50 copies of her book - "How the guinea pig got its squeak" - put on sale at local bookshops after impressing teachers with a class assignment.

The illustrated book, inspired by her pet guinea pigs Choco and Button, tells the fictional story of how the household pets learned to sqeak after Choco visited the queen.

Her mother, Jane Hawes, told the Gazette how she heard about the short story at a parents' evening over a year ago.

She said: "Rosie's teacher began telling me about a book she was working on at school. We were all so impressed with it that we decided she had to finish it.

"It took her the best part of a year to do, but we're all so proud of what she has done."

Rosie also drew all of the pictures in the book - with a little help from her sister Isobel, 6, and brother Arthur 4.

She said: "I'm really happy with it, everybody at school thinks it's really good. It was fun to make."

The book is now on sale in Uley Stores, Nonsuch Publishing in Nailsworth and Stroud Children's Book Shop.

Her mother added: "Sales have been great, it's proved to be very popular. We're going to have to do another delivery to Stroud.

"We're really proud of her. It took so much effort and we're delighted with what she's done."