A CHILDREN'S author has written a story inspired by her love of the Lake District.

In her debut collection, 'Gorgeous Gwendolen Goose and Other Stories', Sue Ellis based her title story on Coniston.

Although Sue lives in York, she has always visited the Lake District for family walking holidays and has climbed the Old Man of Coniston numerous times.

It was this particular walk that inspired her to write Gorgeous Gwendolen Goose, which is a story that aims to deliver a moral message.

"I chose the geese for Coniston because geese are fascinating creatures in themselves," she said. "They show team work and leadership that children can really learn from."

She said that she wanted to describe Coniston using vivid imagery to try to encourage children to read and enjoy books, as well as to show them how beautiful the Lake District is.

"I want children to be proud of where they come from and who they are," she said. "Every single person is unique."

Sue, 57, is now retired but having spent much of her career teaching children with behavioural difficulties, she wanted to write tales that were entertaining but that still had a moral thread.

"You can never force a child to behave," she said. "But you can give them the tools."

All six of the stories in Sue's collection are based on areas of the United Kingdom which she has a special connection with, including York, Liverpool, Sheffield and London.

The stories have been described as 'modern Aesop fables' with a message for the reader and are aimed at children aged between six and 10.

Sue created the stories to complement the Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) curriculum.

She is also available for assemblies and workshops in primary schools and can be contacted on sueellisbooks@btinternet.com.