A LOCAL author has given away 500 books to primary school pupils in Haverfordwest.

Brian John’s story, ‘The Strange Affair of the Ethiopian Treasure Chest’ won the Wishing Shelf Gold Award for fiction, a competition judged by schoolchildren from across the UK.

With the help of Pembrokeshire County Council, pupils in years 4, 5 and 6 have all received copies of the paperback, under the Big Book Bash 2014 scheme.

Brian attended Prendergast Primary School, and the storyline in ‘The Strange Affair’ – his first children’s book - is loosely based on his memories of adventures in and around the area.

“Having learned as a child to enjoy stories written by others, I thought it would be entirely appropriate to give something back,” he said. “Children are instinctively imaginative and creative, and it will be wonderful if this scheme helps further the Welsh Government's literacy ambitions, and nurtures a future generation of Pembrokeshire authors!”