A voracious young reader has had his first book published at the age of just seven.

Canterbury schoolboy Conor Bentley-Moore first wrote the story two years ago, as a birthday present for his mum.

"We wanted a unique gift - something different," said his dad, Lee Bentley.

"He loves reading, he's constantly got his head in a book.

"So I said why don't you write a story? We can get it printed like a book at a proper printer, and it will be the only one in the world."

Conor, a pupil at St Peter's Methodist Primary School who lives in Buckland Avenue in Dover , came up with a story about a lion named Ashley, and his quest for true love in the jungle.

"He picked the plot, characters, names, location, what he wanted to happen," said Lee, 37, who works as a taxi driver in Canterbury . "I just made it flow. I'd say 75% was him.

"I took it to a printers in Canterbury and they printed and bound it into an actual book.

"His mum cried and thought it was amazing."

But when Conor's grandmother Louise Bentley saw it, she convinced them to approach a publisher.

"I initially said 'don't be silly, it's got no chance'," said Lee. "But my mum got in touch with The Conrad Press in Canterbury . He was so excited - he jumped at the chance.

"We changed the title from Ashley's Search for Love, to Love in the Jungle.

"My mum is an amateur artist, so she did all the illustrations."

The book sees Ashley the lion witness a fight between his parents, before deciding to leave home and find love for himself.

"He's got a group of friends - a monkey, crocodile, elephant, and a bear - and they go on an adventure," explained Lee.

"He goes to their different parts of the jungle to meet different lions they know.

"Part of my influence on it was underlining messages of the diversity of love; that you can fall in love with anybody, and with communication you can work things out."

Conor, who hopes to become a paramedic, policeman or fireman when he grows up, says he has enjoyed seeing his book published.

Last weekend, he did a book signing in Dover.

"It was fantastic," he said. "I felt famous!"

Love in the Jungle is 64 pages long, and is aimed at readers aged between four and 12.

Copies cost £5.99, and are available at Waterstones, Amazon, and can also be bought through Love in the Jungle's Facebook page .

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