A WELL-KNOWN Blackburn hairdresser has published his second children’s book, and says it comes with a message we should all adhere to.

Nigel Womack, 65, will launch Bea at a book signing in WH Smith in Blackburn on September 28.

Darwen-born Mr Womack, who has run Nigel’s Cutting Shop in Town Hall Street since 1974, has been writing since he was a teenager and released his first book, The Angry Giant, in February.

Talking about Bea, which features illustrations by Ursula Hurst, he said: “This story is fantastic. It’s about a Bee who is born without a black and white striped woolly jumper.

“Throughout the story you read about how Bea looks everywhere for her stripes as she wants to be the same colour as everyone else.

“She even goes to the Queen Bee for help.”

Mr Womack said the story was lovely in that encapsulates a really poignant message about colour.

He said: “Now I did some research into bees and apparently bees don’t see the way we see.

“And it’s a lot to do with colour. So they don’t necessarily see the stripes that we see.

“Colour to bees doesn’t make any difference you see, and that’s the message I’ve tried to get across in my book - that it doesn’t matter what colour you are, we are all the same.”

Mr Womack said he’s extremely proud of his new book and promises there’s more tales to come – for both adults and children.

He said: “I was honoured to appear at the Stonyhurst Literature Festival this year, where I got to give an hour’s talk about my books.

“I even signed a few copies for the college too.”

Bea will be available to buy from September 27, and The Angry Giant is out now.