A MAN from Kent has turned a family joke into a children’s book.

Phillip Carey, who is a fork-lift truck driver, turned his hand to writing when he had to take time off work because of sickness.

Now the 51-year-old of Beechings Way, Twydall, Gillingham, is celebrating the publication of his first book – a children’s tale about the adventures of a dog called Lucky.

Lucky was born from a family joke about a dog they met while visiting relatives in Australia. Once Phil was back home, he got down to writing the story.

He said: "I would like to be able to write a whole series of Lucky’s Adventure books."

* See Monday's Medway Messenger for the full story.