The latest in a series of books by a regional daily editor aimed at encouraging good habits in children has been successfully launched.

Northern Echo chief Peter Barron has published Black-toothed Ruth Black – the cautionary tale of a girl who never brushes her teeth.

The book, which was launched at Waterstones in Darlington, is the second in Peter’s Monstrous Morals series, following Fartin’ Martin Sidebottom.

Each book aims to tackle bad habits of children such as breaking wind, nose-picking and refusing to brush your teeth.

The next three in the series – Fidgety Bridget Wrigglesworth, Nose-Picking Nicholas Pickering, and Messy Bessie Clutterbuck – are set to be published in 2014.

Future characters in the series will include Grubby Joe Grub, Scary Hairy Mary, Chilly Billy Winters, Gobby Nobby Robinson and Smelly Simon Smedley.

Black-toothed Ruth Black is Peter Barron's second children's book