AVEBURY has been brought to life for children after a local author published a new book that mixes what historians know about the site with a fictional time-travelling adventure about a boy named Luke.

Burbage author Barbara Townsend has published six books and launched her most recent Luke and the Flint Knapper’s Son during the first ever Avebury Literary Event last weekend.

She said: “It is hard to get a child to pick up a facts book, but an adventure book is easier.

“I weave education into the adventure story so the children are learning without even realising.

“I think it is very important children know about their heritage.

“I always research first and then start writing. It has been very interesting finding out about Avebury.”

After penning her first book in 2011, she has continued to gain success through her writing and English Heritage has just placed an order for 100 of her fifth book, entitled Luke and the Bluestone, which is set at Stonehenge.

Read more about Avebury on Page 31, when a reporter experiences a virtual reality tour of the stones from 3000 years ago.

The festival marked Lammas, a Celtic festival celebrating the start of the harvesting season.

Her 5th book ‘Stonehenge - Luke and the Bluestone’ has proved so successful that English Heritage now sell it in their gift shop at Stonehenge. Before penning the Avebury themed books for children, she was inspired by Savernake Forest near her Burbage home. The Big Belly Oak was written after she saw a snow covered oak tree while driving through the forest.