A LOWER Gornal author will be donating the proceeds from his murder mystery novel to charity.

The Inspirational Inspector is the first book that 76-year-old Charles C Baines has had published.

Mr Baines, who trained as an industrial sewing machine technician and started his own business in 1972, developed a passion for writing in 2005, after a cancer care meant he had to take it easy for a while.

When he retired in 2008, he was able to devote more time to his craft.

The result was The Inspirational Inspector, described as a story of love, hate and revenge.

It follows the quest to find out who buried a vicar alive in a shallow, unconsecrated grave.

Mr Baines will be at Lower Gornal Library on Saturday, November 11, to sign and sell copies of the book between 10am and 2pm.

Copies cost £5 and £3 from every sale will be donated to Children in Need.