A CHILDREN'S book website has been set up to allow readers to have access to the work of two North-East authors.

Kids' Bookshelf will focus on the work of John Dean and his mother, Doreen, both of whom live in Darlington and who published their own books.

John Dean is the author of the comic fantasy Haghir the Dragon Finder, which tells about a hapless band of dwarves trying to make a living by slaying dragons.

Desperate to do something less dangerous, his comrades persuade Haghir to rescue a damsel in distress.

However, after encountering book-reading dragons, forest folk who hate forests, evil dwarfs more interested in tea and crumpets and a Forest God who wants to work in a library, it all goes horribly wrong.

The book is aimed at junior school children and above.

Doreen Dean's tale, Dinosaur Week, tells about a boy called John who discovered a family of tiny dinosaurs living in his garden and has to cope with the scepticism of the adults in his life. This book is aimed at children between seven and nine years old.

It has already been read to more than 1,000 children in Darlington by the author, in her capacity as Writer in Schools.

Both books have sold hundreds of copies and the website will include an order form for people to purchase copies.

John Dean, 39, who also writes The Northern Echo's environmental pages, Northern Eco, said: "The use of websites to promote books is becoming increasingly popular, and we hope that the Kids' Bookshelf will be able to take advantage of the trend."

Kids' Bookshelf can be accessed on http://www.btinternet.com/deangriss/bookshelf