A BASINGSTOKE author has published his own adventure story featuring riddles and "math-er-magics" to help children overcome their fear of maths. 

Samuel Preece tells the story of an orphan boy called Rubin and his quest to recover a runaway horse. Aimed at children of nine years and over, readers are invited to help Rubin along his journey by solving problems and finding clues. 

The children's book called Rubin and the lost horse of Merrithorpe includes all of Samuel's own illustrations.

Reviews on Amazon describe the book as the perfect amount of "pictorial to keep younger readers interested without it being too much for more advanced readers". 

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Samuel, 84, who is married with two children and six grandchildren, spent six months creating his book. 

He said: "I was inspired to give my grandchildren a little fun and something to occupy their minds.

"I have dedicated the book to all six of them."

The book includes 10 chapters and at the end of each chapter there are also the meanings given of words that may be new to a child's vocabulary. 

The book is available to buy on Amazon and is also available from bookshops. 

To buy the book go to amazon.com/Rubin-Lost-Horse-Merrithorpe-Illustrations.