A SECOND book in a Lake District-inspired series starring red squirrels has been published.

At the launch of her brand new book called 'Peg the Red', author Wendy Ellwood was signing copies at Cafe Eclec in Staveley.

"The day went well," said Mrs Ellwood, who lives in the village. "Quite a few people who had read the first book came over to talk to me.

"It's good to get people talking about the problems faced by red squirrels."

Mrs Ellwood became aware of the native squirrels' plight while working as a volunteer at a nature reserve in Grasmere.

"I started writing the first story on the bus ride home," she said.

In a children's story told in rhyme, Peg the red squirrel faces dangers all around and needs help from her family and her Lake District friends to survive.

Another author attending the Eclec Cafe on the same day was Elaine Newman, from Arnside, who was giving a talk on her debut novel, 'The Mystery of The Golden Tower.'

The children's novel tells the story of Pixie, who moves to Blackpool with her mother, and embarks on an exciting journey after finding a mysterious key on the beach.

"As a child I used to take part in these type of things," the Blackpool-born author said. "I found it very exciting, I was always trying to see what was going on. I wanted to tell people about what it was like from a child's point of view and that's how the book was born."

Mrs Newman is already working on her next book, another mystery which will be set in Arnside.

'Peg the Red', illustrated by Sophie Holme, is available through Amazon, local shops including Waterstone's at Kendal, Low Sizergh Barn shop and Levens Hall, or it can be ordered at pegthered@btinternet.com.

The final instalment of the red squirrel trilogy is to be published later this year.

'The Mystery of the Golden Tower' by Elaine Newman is available on Amazon.

She will be signing copies of her books on the Silverdale and Arnside Art trail, which will be held on June 23-25.