A CHILDREN'S book is enjoying a new lease of life after its North-East author was asked to read extracts at a storytelling festival.

Haghir the Dragon Finder, a comic fantasy by John Dean, of Darlington, was published ten years ago - but only after a series of setbacks and disappointments with mainstream publishers.

Mr Dean - a freelance journalist who writes for The Northern Echo - eventually published the book with his father, Stan, and it sold 700 copies in the region.

However, the work has not been in bookshops for a number of years, until now, with Ottakar's, in Darlington town centre, promising to stock it from this week.

Its decision follows the news that the author will host storytelling sessions as part of the Tees Forest festival, Tales from the Tees, next week.

The 42-year-old will read from his work at Lingfield Countryside Centre, in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, between 11am and 4pm on Thursday, August 26.

Mr Dean, who also plans to take the book into schools, said: "It is a delight to see it having a new lease of life."

More details about Tales from the Tees can be obtained at www.teeesforest.org.uk. Details of the Lingfield event are available on (01642) 577325.