A FATHER-OF-TWO has published a book inspired by Maldon’s most famous spectacle.

Gary Miller’s book Mud: The Alien Dog centres around a character called Kirby Dunne, whose life was changed forever when he and his friend Spencer met an “out-of-this-world visitor” to Earth while competing in the Maldon Mud Race.

The divorced father of daughters Hayley and Katie said: “I was born, raised and still live in Essex.

“The whole Mud idea stems from many family getaways at a caravan park in Osea Leisure Park, which consisted of fun-filled weekends and long school holidays.

“Some of these times consisted of days out in Maldon Park, though I only witnessed the annual mud race as a spectator in the last few years.”

Mr Miller, 49, who now lives in Rayleigh, had to end his 30-year career in London in 2015, after recovering a stroke in 2013.

His sudden downturn resulted in Gary losing the use of his left arm.

He also had to battle to learn to walk all over again for some time after the stroke.

Mr Miller said: “Despite fatigue and lifelong tablet intake to combat epilepsy, my mind remained fairly intact, although I had to give up my job in finance in the City of London, which had begun in 1986.”

Mr Miller found he had the time to write “that book we all have within us’ thanks to the support of fiancee Michelle, whose “hard work and patience” allowed him to focus all his energy on his first novel.

Mr Miller said the opportunity would not have been possible without her support.

He added: “Having an understanding and bill-paying partner has meant that my time at home could be spent indulging my passion for writing, with Mud: The Alien Dog as the result.

“Having spent extra on purchasing a computer with hands-free facilities, which I couldn’t get along with, I ended up typing everything on Word documents with my fully functioning good right hand.”

Mud: The Alien Dog was released on July 31 in paperback, hardback and Ebook, ranging from £3.50 to £11.99.

It is available to buy on Amazon and from good booksellers.