AN avid artist from Winterbourne has written her first children’s book based on the adventures of her dogs, all set in Wotton-under-Edge.

Nicola Hill, 36, who was the store manager at Tesco in Wotton, has written her first children’s book called the Wotton Pack & the Ghost House.

The story features her three dogs, 11-year-old Rio and one-year-old Koa, both Labradors, along with Jack Russell cross Misty, seven.

Alongside her own canine trio is 10-year-old pointer Jonah and a former border collie of Nicola’s called Sadie.

Also playing key roles are the famous Wotton eagle owl Synwell, a skeleton called Tom, several moles and some troublesome ghost sheep.

“It’s about a group of dogs who all go out on an adventure to search for treasure, and find themselves in a haunted house, which is home to some ghost sheep,” said Nicola, who lives in Winterbourne, studied animal care at SGS College in Filton and attended the former Ridings School.

“The sheep are cross with the local people for stealing their wool, and turning it into hideous Christmas jumpers.

“The dogs then find out about treasure being guarded by the mole king underground, they help the dogs to scare aware the sheep.

“Eventually they learn that along with finding treasure they have learnt a valuable lesson, which is that it's ok to be different, some things are more important than fear, and true friendship and family come in all shapes and sizes.”

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The events of the book are all set in and around Wotton and feature the RSPCA shop and the Tolsey clock.

A keen artist, Nicola has drawn all the illustrations for the Wotton Pack & the Ghost House herself, and will be printing, signing and framing large versions to help her to finance self-publishing the book.

The book is not necessarily written for a young child to read themselves, but for parents or adults to read to their kids, or to help teach youngsters to read.

For more updates follow Nicola’s Facebook page at bit.ly/2vIm8EN.