A DAD who wrote stories to get his four-year-old daughter to sleep has become a published author.

Neil Pettifer wanted a calm story to help his youngest daughter, Lana drift off to sleep and minimise her waking in the night with bad dreams.

Mr Pettifer who lives in St Johns, Worcester with his family said: “Lana would wake at least twice a night with nightmares, but now when we have Lamberoo journeys before bed she dreams about being in the stories and dancing in the clouds”.

Inspired by his daughters’ names; Lana and Amber, “The Little Lamberoo” has many adventures “just past the clouds, but before the stars”, enjoying “Lamberoo cake with purple icing” before she snuggles down her head for bed.

Mr Pettifer, a learning mentor at Tudor Grange Academy, Worcester said: “My older daughter, Amber, 10 is on Harry Potter and my younger daughter is on the Gruffalo. She always liked the the fact that it rhymed, so I started to go down that route.

He added: “My daughters have always preferred the more out there stories.”

Mr Pettifer teamed up with a Worcester illustrator of WEAREBEARD, based in The Butts, for the book. “I am thrilled to see ‘The Little Lamberoo’ developed and brought to life thanks to the hard work of my good friend and illustrator David Webb. This story was created and brought to life in Worcester, which I am proud of. David’s illustrations really pull the reader into the bedtime adventures.”

“He is ridiculously talented.” Mr Pettifer said.

Green Cat Publishers are now publishing Mr Pettifer’s first book. He said: “I have been so lucky with this whole process. Louisa from Green Cat has been incredible. I am so grateful for all the help I have had.

“I have to mention my wife Bethany who has helped promote it. She know’s more about these things than me, and mostly to my daughters because they helped develop the character and made it a really fun experience.”

The paperback book is available from Amazon and Waterstones online.