The Melody Lingers On by Leslie Wilkie, of Mill Street, Hutton, has just been published and features stories taken from journeys spanning 50 years.

The title features short stories set in far flung locations inspired by some of Leslie’s travelling experiences during the past five decades.

He said: “In the main they are stories which people have never seen before. They are all fiction inspired by my travels.”

This is the second collection of stories by the author, who says it is always a good feeling to see the finished product.

Seven of the 14 stories have been published previously, one of them on the internet, and have won prizes in literary competitions.

Leslie, who has also had several novels published, including The Golden Gnome, The Felicity Factor and The Kokoda Connection, said the stories cover a mixture of genres, including comedy and drama.

Leslie’s first success as an author came when, aged 11, he won a copy of Robinson Crusoe which ignited a desire to travel.

The Hull-born writer qualified as a Merchant Navy radio officer and joined his first shiop at the age of 17.

Within a year he had crossed the equator twice, travelled round the Cape of Good Hope and up the Suez Canal.

After 14 years Leslie started to train radio staff for deep sea vessels, trawlers and oil rigs then, 10 years later he went on to visit Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu and Oman.

He is now retired and working on his next book, which he says will be another mystery novel.

The Melody Lingers On, priced at £4.95, is available online from www.supamasu.co.uk or Amazon or can be ordered from any bookshop.