He is a fun-loving dog with a passion for adventure and he is hoping to encourage children to enjoy exploring the north Norfolk coast.

Norf the Dog, the creation of April Law and Claire Fawcett, is the main character in the children's book Up, Up and a Wave. It is the first in a series of stories that will see the intrepid dog out and about on trips around the coast and other parts of Norfolk.

Named after the county, Norf is based on Mrs Law's family dog Oscar, a Parson Jack Russell, described as bold and courageous, and cool, calm and collected.

'The inspiration was trying to create a way for the children to learn about the area and appreciate landmarks and places within Norfolk,' said Mrs Law, a mother-of-two who is married to 35-year-old Jason with whom she runs Hunstanton-based architect firm Strata.

'It was just creating something I could read with the children and which would get them to appreciate parts of Norfolk in a different way through the book.'

Mrs Law, 36, said while her youngest daughter, 17-month-old Emilia, is a bit too young to understand about Norf, her eldest daughter, four-year-old Mya, enjoys hearing about his adven-tures and is often her inspiration.

Originally from Hong Kong and now living in North Wootton, near King's Lynn, Mrs Law first came up with the idea for Norf about two years ago, and after seeing Miss Fawcett's artwork in a Hong Kong gallery she asked her to illustrate her story about Norf and his adventures.

Miss Fawcett, 28, was living in the Asian country at the time and they began developing Norf's character while living in two different continents, but in a lucky coincidence Miss Fawcett's 29-year-old partner Steve Wikeley found a job in Norfolk and they moved to Norwich.

The couple now run the design company Team Graphical together.

Norf's first story sees the canine explorer and his friend go kite-surfing, a popular activity on the north Norfolk coast.

'We have started Norf off in Hunstanton,' said Mrs Law,

'He has got a friend, Oakli Owl who comes to visit but is afraid of flying, and so Norf takes him off on an adventure.

'They go kite-surfing and then the wind carries them away.'

In the book the pair travel past different Norfolk landmarks, such as the cliffs and lighthouse at Hunstanton, and these are included in Miss Fawcett's illustrations.

Visitors to Norf's website can take part in a monthly competition to guess which part of Norfolk he has been visiting recently, they can follow Norf's travels on an illustrated map, and also download images to create their own adventures with Norf.

Norf has even got his own Twitter page and, with the help of Miss Fawcett, he has pledged to draw illustrations of the next few hundred people who follow him on the social media site.

Up, Up and a Wave costs �5.99 and is aimed at children aged three and over. It is on sale at Big Blue Sky in Wells, the deli at Thornham, and Mrs Law's gift and accessories shop April Rain in Hunstanton.

It can also be bought online at www.norfthedog.co.uk

emma.knights@archant.co.uk