A FORMER Whitchurch resident has released their debut novel, featuring a Spanish love story.

Paul Diggory, who attended Sir John Talbot's School in Tilstock Road, has released 'Outside Lola's', an uplifting contemporary romantic comedy set in Andalucía in the summer of 2018.

The novel is based around the life of a man who travels to Spain after being made redundant and watched his marriage fizzle out.

But his life takes an unexpected turn when two local Spaniards interrupt his holiday.

The story plays out to a backdrop of Almeria's cinematic heritage and Andalusian history, culture and landscape.

Paul says the idea came to him after seeing an incident on the beach while on holiday himself.

"The idea came to me on holiday when I saw an incident on the beach and jotted down the plot in a notebook on the flight home" said Paul.

Unable to act on it because of work commitments, the idea stayed in his notes for five years before he was in a position to develop them into a story.

He added: "Even then, there were delays when my wife broke her ankle, then five months later fractured her other leg.

"But eventually, with support and encouragement, the story was finished and now it's out.

"I thought it might make a good choice for holiday reading but that's been scuppered for now

"Andalucía is a region I love and so the book includes some great locations.

"In fact, the novel has enough attractions, beaches, restaurants and cafés to easily fill a holiday."

The book is on sale now in paperback and in e-book format through Amazon.