THE author of a children’s book which tells the story of a loveable mole will be reading her stories in Upton tomorrow (Saturday).

Glenda Ramsay, who lives in Leigh Sinton, wrote The Adventures of Moley Joe based on one of the characters she invented for a puppet theatre she ran in the mid-70s.

Mrs Ramsay moved to Leigh Sinton with her husband a couple of years ago and met neighbour Wendy Britton, who draws wildlife pictures and agreed to illustrate the book.

She comes from a theatrical background, having appeared in touring productions, in rep at Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and in West End shows.

Mrs Ramsay also made TV appearances in shows such as The Likely Lads and Z Cars in the 60s, but stopped touring when she started a family.

She said: “I started the puppets to entertain one of my children when he was ill and off school. That became the Playtime Puppet Theatre, which performed shows to children in schools, libraries and art centres for many years.

“After giving up the theatre I began writing stories about the adventures Moley Joe had with his puppet friends, and then went back into schools telling children these stories.”

Mrs Ramsay will be reading stories from the book at Upton Library tomorrow at 11am. This week, she also held reasings at the Malvern Book Co-operative and Malvern Library.

The Adventures of Moley Joe is published by Aspect Design of Malvern and is available there, at the Malvern Book Co-operative, Aquarius and WH Smith in Malvern. It can also be bought from Ledbury Books and Maps and Three Counties Books in Ledbury.