A LOCAL giant who grew to a height of nine feet three inches has inspired a budding author to write a children’s book.

Rachel Lyon sent her story about John Middleton, the Childe of Hale to a publisher and was signed up straightaway.

Her rhyming picture book, The Cautionary Tale of the Childe of Hale will be released next autumn and distributed as far as Australia and America.

Rachel, aged 32, of Eccleston, said: “I know how competitive the publishing industry is so I was bracing myself for endless rejections.

“When I got a phone call from Maverick saying that they liked it, and wanted me to go for a meeting, I was over the moon.”

Rachel, a PR consultant and copywriter, stumbled on the local legend by chance.

She had enrolled on an evening class in creative writing at St Helens College and discovered that her tutor, Sue Gerrard, had written a musical about the Childe of Hale.

Rachel, a former pupil of Rainhill High School, said: “I thought the image of a giant with his feet sticking out of a little cottage would make an ideal children’s book.

“The history about him is very interesting. He went to the palace of James I. All that features in the book. In two days it was written.

“I’m delighted to have it published. It is my dream come true.”

Rachel’s gift for words was nurtured at Nutgrove Primary School.

She recalled: “I wrote poems when I was 11 and a family friend saw them and printed them in a book.

“Teachers used to call me ‘The Poetess’. It’s something I’ve always had a knack for.”

Rachel has already written a second comic tale, about George and The Dragon.

She said: “I am very lucky. Publishers get thousands of submissions, 99 out of 100 are rejected.

“I’m really enjoying writing. Once you’ve got the inspiration, it’s a lot easier to come up with the words.

“I spent a lot of time sending my first story to family and friends for feedback..”

The Childe of Hale was John Middleton thought to have been born in Hale near Speke in 1572. He is reputed to have beaten the king’s wrestling champion in a special bout.