GAZETTE & HERALD: SIXTY years after the release of his first book, The Fairy who Lost Her Wings, author Alf Denney, 92, formerly from Calne, is releasing a sequel.

Now he hopes to make it into the Guinness Book of Records for having the longest gap between an original book and its follow-up.

Mr Denney, who used to live in London Road, wrote his first book in 1944 when stationed in North Africa and sent it to his daughter Patricia, then six, as a birthday present when she was in Calne living as an evacuee.

Mr Denney, who was stationed with the RAF in Yatesbury and Compton Bassett during the Second World War, said: "My daughter loved it and my wife had to read it to her every night before she went to bed.

"The first copy was lying around in my bureau after Tricia left it with me when she went to university and it remained in my bureau until my son, Ron, found it and decided we would publish it. He then presented me with a copy on my 90th birthday.''

Mr Denney has been taken aback by the response to his stories. "The fact it was accepted so readily really amazed me,'' he said. "I am absolutely delighted with the final versions, they are wonderful.

"I have another one already written, called Fairy Bright Wings: The Last Fairies. I have ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and they have already seen the book."

Mr Denney, who now lives in Danbury in Essex, is waiting for confirmation of his record.

He said: "Apparently they could not get us any figures about what record exists at the moment but I do feel 60 years will be the record."