A YOUNGSTER has published a book inspired by a dream and featuring familiar places and faces from his North Yorkshire hometown.

Jacob Carnes, aged eight, wrote 'Alfie's Secret Dragon' to connect with his family and to raise money for good causes when the Covid pandemic meant he couldn’t go to school.

The youngster drafted in help from his whole family, including both sets of grandparents, to help write some of the chapters.

It tells the story of a young boy called Alfie who wakes up one night to discover a dragon asleep under his bed.

The book follows the pair on a series of adventures and is set in Jacob's Malton hometown.

It is now available to buy and all the money raised from sales will go to NHS charities and to Jacob's school, Weaverthorpe Primary in Malton.

Jacob said: “Lockdown was a difficult time because school was closed and I couldn’t see my friends. I wanted something to do but I also wanted to do something to raise money for charity.