RESIDENTS from Tavistock including a 12-year-old college student have joined the likes of Simon Callow, Tilda Swinton and David Cameron in a unique arts project being released online.

The Moby Dick Big Read project has been led by Samuel Johnson prize-winning author Phillip Hoare, in conjunction with artist Angela Cockayne, Plymouth University and Peninsular Arts.

Each of the 139 chapters of the famous novel by Herman Melville have been read and recorded by a different individual. The readers include many famous names, such as Stephen Fry, Ian McKellan and Benedict Cumberbatch — and a contingent from Tavistock, Nigel Larcombe Williams, his son Cyrus, 12, Jeff Lawson and Jake Philips, along with Cyrus's English teacher Tom Thorogood from Tavistock College.

A chapter, along with a piece of art by numerous famous artists, is being released on the internet each day until the middle of January.

Nigel, who reads chapter 59, The Hyena, said: 'It was interesting, it was good to do.

'I recorded my bit about two months ago but apparently they had to get David Cameron very last minute — it was difficult with him because a lot of the chapters are very political.

'Cyrus was the carpenter boy in his chapter, while his teacher, Tom, read the main narrative.

'He absolutely loved it — he's very academic and loves doing anything like this.'

The artists and readers have all contributed their efforts free of charge. All the chapters have now been recorded, apart from two, including the last chapter, for which Mr Hoare is hoping for 'a really big name'.

The project was launched at Plymouth Book Festival two weeks ago.

For more information, or to download any of the chapters, go to the website http://www.mobydickbigread">www.mobydickbigread

.com