A DELPH-BASED children's author and illustrator won an award for her book.

J C Perry was awarded a silver medal from The Wishing Shelf Book Awards for her second book 'Tom's Zombie Fright' in the preschool picture book category after being judged by children in eight UK primary and secondary schools.

The mum-of-two said she was over the moon to win the award.

She said: "After the strange year we've all had, it was lovely to get some good news. My family feature in this book, and they were thrilled to bits too."

Perry was inspired to write the book when her son Tom became obsessed with a zombie video game.

She said: "He'd play it all the time, he'd talk about it with his friends, and he'd draw zombies from the game in his spare time. I began to formulate a story where Tom played his zombie video game so much that it spooked him, and then something scary actually happened to him. It's not too scary though, in fact it'll give you a giggle in places. Tom let me use three of his drawings in the book where I've shown him drawing zombies. "

Former North Chadderton School and Sixth Form College student, Perry began writing four years ago and initially wanted to write two books which featured her children as her first book featured her daughter Lorna.

She added: "The award has really encouraged me to carry on writing. To be honest I can't see a day when I'll stop writing and illustrating as it's something I really enjoy. I love the process of making up a good story - one I haven't read in some form or another somewhere else, and then illustrating it brings it all to life. I love that not only people in this country, but people on the other side of the world are reading my books to their kids and getting enjoyment from them - I get a real buzz from that." A She said. "I keep thinking about the next story, and the one after that."

Perry's latest book The Best Nest, was published in February this year.