MEET Martha Lowman, Gwent's answer to Beatrix Potter, and her creation Tom Henry Hedgehog - a rival to Mrs Tiggywinkle.

But Mrs Lowman's creature is a very modern animal compared to Potter's famous creation.

Tom Henry Hedgehog, who is featured in The Hedgehogs of Hogsville is something of an anti-hero who gets led astray by his mates.

Mrs Lowman, 68, from Clunmawr, Abertillery, said: "I wanted to use the book to show children the importance of road safety.

"The story is about Tom Henry, who is the same as humans because he does lots of silly things - he even gets drunk!

"He is led astray by Joe Rat, but after he listens to advice from his friend Wise Owl he gets put right. After that, he is in his wife Freda Hedgehog's good books again."

Mrs Lowman started writing the book about a year ago, and enlisted the help of an artist friend, Margaret Jones, also from Abertillery, to do the illustrations.

She said: "The most important message for the children is road safety. The roads today are a nightmare and if I can make just one child think about road safety through reading the book, then that's what I want.

"The book also shows how people can consider other people's feelings. I hope all the children like it, and find it a bit of fun."

Mrs Lowman funded the £600 publishing of the book herself, and is launching the project officially at a local shop this Thursday.

She will be signing copies of the book at This'N'That fashions in the arcade in Abertillery from 10am.

The book costs £3.99, is available from the shop now.

Mrs Lowman said: "My inspiration was that I just wanted to look at all the silly things people do, and show through the hedgehogs how easy it is to get back on the right path!"