A borough author is set to welcome fans to Mill Gate Shopping Centre on Saturday to celebrate the release of his latest book.

Michael Knaggs, 77, will appear at the WH Smith store from 10.30am to 5.30pm to sign copies of his fourth novel The Blue Men as well as the first three books in his original Hotel St Kilda Trilogy.

The crime series, which also includes Catalyst, Heaven’s Door and Lost Souls, follows MP Tom Brown, who exploits the killing of three gang members for his own political advancement.

The latest book sees Tom, now a disgraced former Home Secretary, missing and presumed drowned until a photograph taken in Scotland by a journalist raises doubts about his disappearance.

Speaking to the Bury Times previously, Michael, who lives in Simister, explained that this novel is his favourite yet.

He said: “I am very pleased to have written four books that can withstand comparison with other very successful writers.

“My lifelong ambition was always to be a writer and something I finally got round to in retirement, so I’m glad I have made a success out of it.

“It’s been five years since I wrote my last book, Lost Souls, and people have been asking when I plan to publish another, which is great for me to hear that people enjoyed them enough to keep on reading.

“The original trilogy got tremendous feedback and I’m really happy to revisit these characters that I am now so familiar with.”