FELIX the fast tractor and friends are the subject of a new children's book written by a Cumbrian author which is already proving popular as far afield as Cape Town.

Catherine Cannon, from Great Strickland, near Shap, has written several children's books about life on a Cumbrian farm.

Mrs Cannon has sold around 400 copies within the first month but the website set up to complement the book has helped her reach a wider audience: "I can only get the book out locally but the website has allowed access to anybody as they can order on-line.

"One book has gone out to Cape Town and there's a three-year-old boy who takes it around everywhere with him."

The first book tells the story of how a new building is constructed on the farm. The whole idea stemmed from her son's love of tractors and the book seemed a natural way of educating children in a fun way.

Mrs Cannon said: "My son was really interested in farms but there was nothing on the market which contained factual information so we wrote a few stories.

"The first book shows the process of building a barn and the second book has a lot about telling the time because it's about a coal delivery."

Mrs Cannon has been combining her writing with a career in marketing as well as being a mum, but she is now looking to concentrate on her writing. She said the reaction from people had been excellent: "When you do things like this you expect something critical to be said but I had one mum who said her daughter had made her read the story seven times one night, so it's nice to hear things like that."

Mrs Cannon is also speaking to the local education authority after teachers at Brunswick School in Penrith said it was just the sort of book that would help get boys interested in reading.

The books are available from branches of Ottakar's and Low Sizergh Barn, Kendal, and more details are available at www.felixthefasttractor.co.uk. The second book will be out in November.