Neil Coppendale's voice has been heard on sports reports and interviewing showbiz stars.

He has now turned his attention to the written word - and a much younger audience.

Neil, from Church Green, Shoreham, has written a 5,000-word children's book called Mouse Man And Cat Boy.

But before it can be published, he needs an illustrator - and he is hoping to count on young, local talent.

Neil, a former Radio Sussex Albion reporter and Radio 2 presenter, said: "I thought a talented primary school-age child might be able to produce some unpretentious illustrations that would add extra charm to the book.

"I have fine-tuned it from a writing point of view but it now needs to be brought to life with pictures.

"And there is nothing exploitative about this. If I can find a suitable illustrator, they will be paid the going rate."

Neil's fantasy tale is the story of a polite mouse. Not wanting to give too much away, he says the story is a moral tale with a memorable catchphrase and an interactive element.

He said: "Almost all my media career has been voice rather than pen-related. I always found writing hard but this I found relatively easy - a week to write and a year to fine-tune."

Neil has tested the book on his youngest daughter Karla, 11, and her friends and had a positive response.

He has also drawn on his past experience in education.

He said: "I trained as a teacher at Eastbourne and have a degree in education. This book is no Harry Potter but I think it does have a unique ingredient in the interactive element."

Neil would like to hear from young illustrators who think they can create images of Mouse Man and Cat Boy.

Anyone interested can email him at coppendale@hotmail.com or call him on 07977 115083.