During the coronavirus lockdown, and to coincide with National Share a Story Month, KentOnline is publishing a new episode of Meryl Ledbrooke's The Adventures of Number 3 Tin Cottage every Friday.

Meryl, from the Isle of Sheppey, is working on a new children's TV show and has agreed to share her project. She said: “I hope parents will read these short tales to their youngsters. I think they will make great bedtime stories.”

Magician Jeffrey and his assistant Chantelle live in the cottage with Edwina Cluckbucket the chicken and a cat called Sir Jazz-Purr, which fits in with this month's theme the Planet We Share.

This is the final episode. If you missed the previous instalments, click on the links at the bottom.

Episode 4 - The case of the Missing Carrots

Number 3 Tin Cottage is a wonderful and exciting place where Jeffrey the magician lives with his assistant Chantelle, Eggwina Cluckbucket the chicken, Sir Jazz-Purr the black and white cat and a white rabbit.

On this day, Chantelle was singing accompanied by Sir Jazz-Purr on the bongos, Eggwina Cluckbucket honking her hooter and Jeffrey singing while trying out a new magic recipe for rainbow ice-cream.

Suddenly their music was interrupted by a loud bang on the front door.

In came Farmer Diggit. "I hope we weren't making too much noise?" asked Jeffrey.

"I haven't come about noise," said Farmer Diggit. "I've come to tell you that some of my carrots have disappeared. They were in my garden this morning. And now they're not. I bet it's your white rabbit!"

"Oh dear," said Jeffrey. "I will tell him not to be so naughty... when I find him."

"Why don't we have a name for the white rabbit?" asked Chantelle.

"I could think of a couple," muttered Farmer Diggit under his breath.

"Now come on," said Jeffrey. "We must all go and look for the rabbit."

So off they all went.

They looked in Farmer Diggit's garden -no white rabbit.

They looked in their own garden - no white rabbit.

They looked just about everywhere - and there was still no white rabbit.

"I will just have to magic the carrots and cabbages back into Farmer Diggit's garden," said Jeffrey, with a sigh.

He cast a spell - "Mystical, magical, roundabout" - and there was a whoosh as he waved his magic wand.

Suddenly all the carrots and cabbages where back where they belonged. Farmer Diggit was very pleased.

"Let's go and eat some rainbow ice-cream to celebrate," said Chantelle.

So they all walked into the kitchen. And there in the corner was Jeffrey's black top hat - and peeking above the rim were two floppy white ears. "There he is," exclaimed Chantelle. "The white rabbit!"

"Do you promise to be a good rabbit?" asked Jeffrey, looking stern.

The white rabbit jumped out of the hat, nodded, waved his paw - and then disappeared.

"Well, that was a funny bunny," laughed Chantelle. "And we still don't know his name."

What would you call him?

* If you missed the other instalments, you can read them at tinyurl.com/STbedtimestory, STbedtimestory2 and STbedtimestory3

Read more: Latest news from the Isle of Sheppey here.