Former local newspaper journalist Stephen Booth has been nominated for a crime writing award with his novel One Last Breath.

It is the fifth novel by the former Worksop Guardian, Wilmslow Advertiser and Barnsley Chronicle man, and features his detective creation Ben Cooper.

It is one of 20 books nominated for the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year title, which carries a £3,000 prize.

Detective Constable Cooper features in Stephen’s series of novels set in the Derbyshire Peak District and the novels have already been successful in winning several literary awards.

One Last Breath features the central character and his sidekick Diane Fry hunting a convicted murderer who vanishes following his release from prison.

The Cooper and Fry books have won Best British Crime Novel of the Year twice in America and his books have attracted a host of other nominations since he left journalism as deputy editor of the Worksop Guardian in 2001.

Stephen, (53), now lives in Nottingham.