CHRISTOPHER Jealous has swapped bookkeeping for book writing with the publication of his first novel.

Mr Jealous, 59, from Alresford, has retired after many years looking after the accounts at garages. He has turned to writing novels and has just published Knights of the Great Bed, a humorous historical tale set in the 14th century.

It follows the adventures of Sir Deveril across Hampshire and his quest to join the Order of the Knights of the Great Bed.

Christopher, of Nursery Road, said: "Everyone thinks I must be interested in history, but really it is just the setting for the story. I was looking for a period during which people had to rely on their own resources.

"It was our Wild West. Instead of a lone hero riding across the prairie there were knights."

Christopher, who is hoping to find a publisher for two detective novels set in Basingstoke, was helped to take up writing by an adult education course in Winchester.

Knights of the Great Bed has been published by Vanguard Press and is available locally for £7.99.