A MAN who fell madly in love with Tollesbury when he moved there six and a half years ago is to release a novel inspired by the coastal village.

Stuart Ayris, 42, of East Street, spent three years writing Tollesbury Time Forever, which tells the tale of a Beatles-obsessed, alcoholic schizophrenic who longs to be reunited with the son he abandoned 24 years ago.

The book will now be available on Kindle and other ebook platforms next month.

Mr Ayris, who manages Maldon Community Mental Health Team, based at Carmelite House in White Horse Lane, Maldon, said: “I moved to Tollesbury in the summer of 2005 and have fallen hugely in love with it. It is like no other place I have ever been to.

“If it can't inspire someone to write a novel then no place can.

“In terms of why I chose to write Tollesbury Time Forever, it gradually crept up on me until I couldn't resist it anymore.

“I work as a mental health nurse and a couple of years back I began to look deeper at what really helps people.

“That's when I arrived at the concept of having the main character being diagnosed with schizophrenia. It allows the reader to see life through his eyes which I think is both fascinating and enlightening.”

Tollesbury Time Forever is Mr Ayris’ second novel and follows A Cleansing of Souls, which was published in August 2007.

To find out more about his work, visit tollesburytimeforever.blogspot.com or stuartayrisbooks.co.uk