WHEN primary school teacher Claire Harrison wants to read to her pupils she knows just which book to reach for.

For Mrs Harrison is now a published author with an inspirational picture book set to rival Postman Pat and Fireman Sam.

The busy mum, who has taught at Church Road Primary School, Smithills, for nearly eight years, had been seeking books to fit in with a reception class topic called People Who Help Us.

"But when we came to do about the police there were no good fictional stories and also there were no good female role models," she said.

So two years ago Mrs Harrison picked up her pen and began creating Police Officer Penny, an intrepid constable who sets out to find a missing boy at the zoo.

"I not only wanted a positive role model for both girls and boys, but it is teaching children that police are there to keep us safe," said Mrs Harrison.

The author tested out her creation on her pupils, who gave it the seal of approval and she even made an activity sheet to go with the book.

"Before I sent it off to the publisher I read it to the children. They were all engaged and liked it," she said.

Several publishers wanted the story but 31-year-old Mrs Harrison, from Lower Darwen, opted to place her creation with Olympia and an illustrator was engaged to turn her sketches into colourful pictures.

The finished books have now hit shelves in bookshops around the country and several have even found their way into Church Road Primary library.

"It has been given five stars on Amazon and that makes me very happy," said Mrs Harrison.

But Mrs Harrison, who is married to Chris, is most looking forward to reading her book to eight-month-old son Joey when he is older.

In the meantime she is hoping to interest television companies in making an animated Police Officer Penny programme and the character may be in line for more adventures in further books.

"There are some plans," said Mrs Harrison.

"If the book does well I've already got an idea for the next story."