A west Norfolk grandfather who spent 26 years serving as a soldier has turned his hand to writing children's books.

Andy Whiting, of Watlington near King's Lynn, divides his time between working as a reserve soldier and finishing his adventure series.

'It wasn't until the latter part of my career in 2014 that I thought 'what could I do?' when I put down the mighty pen of the army,' said the father-of-five and grandfather-of-two.

His series of children's books, available to download on the Amazon Kindle, feature a little boy called Bingy and his adventures. Bingy lives with his parents in a lighthouse on a small island and his favourite toy is a magic crystal which, when he rubs it, opens doorways to different worlds.

The first book in the trilogy, aimed at five to 12-year-old children, is The Magic Crystal, the second The Lost Dinosaur - inspired by his grandchildrens' love of dinosaurs - and the third instalment is in the pipeline.

The 45-year-old, who was a full-time soldier serving in the Coldstream Guards and the Adjutants General Corps, said: 'In the long-term I want to get it on the television but that is every writer's dream. But for me it would be a great achievement.'

Mr Whiting, a reserve soldier with the Third Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, added his 12-year-old son Harrison was 'hooked' by the time he had finished the books and was 'shocked' his father had written them.

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