A MUM-of-one has written and illustrated a children’s book inspired by the Newton-le-Willows High Street.

Sarah Wilson, who lived in Newton for five years, penned the book The Shoe Foxes (Tales of Willow Park) based on a shop she saw on the high-street.

It sees three foxes have to work hard to treat themselves to a pair of shoes and she wrote it while she was maternity leave following the birth of her now one-year-old daughter Megan Wilson.

The 32-year-old, who recently moved to Wrexham, said: “I loved living in Newton-le-Willows and the people there were lovely.

“I was inspired by a shop on the high street and wanted to write a children’s book about the importance of working hard for something you want - that’s the main message.

“I started writing it on my phone while doing the night feed and when I couldn’t return to my marketing work for the hours I wanted to I went back to my art roots and wrote the book and did all the illustrations.”

Sarah, who goes by the pen name Sarah Parkinson or Sparky - release the book last month after her husband encouraged her to go ahead with the project.

She added: “I was so overwhelmed when I held a copy of my book in my hand - it was lovely when Megan grabbed it and took a liking to it - it was a special moment. I hope everyone enjoys it and I urge others to try writing.”