HE'S been a trucker most of his working life but Tony Dwelly from Calstock has found a new talent — as a romantic novelist.

His first book, 'Julie's Meadow', was written by twilight on overnight haulage stops and is receiving great reviews, but the author himself will freely admit he has barely read two books in his life because he 'can never get into them'.

It started with short stories written to pass the time at night when he was on the road, often with romantic overtones as he thought of his wife Carol at home.

'I then decided to write a novel but it turned out completely differently to how I had planned,' said Tony, 65.

'I really don't know where it came from — the book almost wrote itself and the characters were not based on anyone I knew. It just all kept coming and before I knew it, it was finished.'

Tony sent his book to a couple of editing companies and then took the plunge and published it himself. He has been bowled over by the reviews.

The touching love story has received outstanding feedback online with romantic fiction fans already clamouring for the next amorous instalment.

His wife and even his trucker friends have been surprised but impressed by the hidden talents of the now transport manager of a Plymouth haulage company.

'People have told me once they started it they could not put the book down and are full of emotion at the end,' he said.

'It's easy to read because it is simple and not overly descriptive but there is something happening all the time.

'The reason I do not read a lot of books is because I cannot get into them. This book is written in a way I like to read.'

Tony said he was not a particularly romantic person but 'very emotional and deep'.

His wife Carol said she was as surprised as anyone when she read the book.

'I couldn't believe it was him,' she said. 'I know it is something Tony has always wanted to do and he has always been good at writing little rhymes and messages when it came to birthdays but I didn't realise he had a book in him — and it's really good.'

Mrs Dwelly said the book was published on their eldest grand-daughter's 15th birthday and she had given it her seal of approval.

But had the book revealed some new things about her husband? 'I would not have said he was such a romantic in real life although he does do some lovely things,' she said.

'He bought me a locket one birthday with a picture of two of our grandchildren in and wrote something lovely about had it not been for me they would not be here.'

Tony Dwelly has already started writing the sequel to Julie's Meadow — so watch this space!