A RETIRED Cirencester vet who recently cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats has written a book about a particularly unusual encounter during his trip – with a little help from his two young grandchildren.

Mick Ponting, former lecturer at the Royal Agricultural College, has written Bumpop and the Loch Ness Monster, which features colourful illustrations by grandchildren Rosie and Fred.

The story, which is described as “mostly true”, tells the tale how a bag belonging to Mick – named ‘Bumpop’ in the book after Rosie and Fred’s nickname for him – was eaten by the mythical resident of the Scottish lake.

Mick, 69, said idea was inspired by drawings of his 1,000-mile journey painted by three-year-old Rosie “Whenever they come to see me all she wants to do is draw and paint,” he said.

“She drew the first picture and that’s where I got the idea.”

All proceeds from the sale of the book – which is recommended for children aged two to seven, will go to Miserden Primary School, where Mick is a governor and six-year-old Fred is a pupil.

The book was officially launched at a public event at Winstone Village Hall on Saturday December 1 sponsored by Panton Wines Ltd of Tetbury.

Mick, Fred and Rosie are also set to be on hand at Cirencester’s popular independent bookshop Octavia’s to meet readers and sign copies in March next year.