A DARLINGTON councillor swapped her committee chair skills for more creative skills to pen her first book.

Coun Dorothy Long, ward councillor for Northgate and chair of Darlington Council’s place scrutiny committee, has published her book 'No Random Loving' through the writers group, Vane Women, of which she is a member.

The book is about familial love and growing up in County Durham and will be officially launched at the Crown Street Gallery in Darlington Library on June 11.

Stockton writer, Ann Graal, will launch her book, In a Savage Country, at the same event which starts at 7.30pm with free wine on offer.