DEVOTED husband Ken Stout has published a book written by his late wife to honour her memory.

Retired military man Mr Stout from Devizes was determined that his wife Sherrie's labour of love over her novel To Free A Pharaoh would be rewarded.

So he has had it published by Silverwood Books in Bristol and it is now available to buy on Amazon and at Devizes Books.

The couple had been married for 54 years when Mrs Stout died last April aged 75.

His wife had been inspired by the success of Harry Potter author JK Rowling who she knew from when she lived in Chepstow where the celebrated author lived from the ages of nine to 18.

Mr Stout said: "Her words were if Joanne could do it why can't I."

He knew his wife had written two children's novels which had never been published and after her death he decided to do something about getting them in print.

To Free A Pharaoh has just come out and he now wants to do his bit to get it publicity. He hopes her other book Ropes Of Sand will also be published at a later date.

He said: "It is a self-published book. I paid for it to be printed as I wanted to see my wife's book out there. I am very pleased that Devizes Books has agreed to stock the paperback and it is also available on Amazon for £7.99."

The book tells the story of a boy called Toby who is forced to stay with his aunt during the school holidays. He thinks it is going to be boring but the elderly lady who he thinks of as a witch has two artefacts dating about thousands of years from ancient Egypt. She needs someone young and brave who believes in magic to help return them to their rightful place and Toby is the boy for the job,