A regional press photographer’s 34-year dream has come true after landing a deal to publish his first novel.

Rob Lock, who spent 23 years with Blackpool daily The Gazette, will have his book Murmuration published by Legend Press of London.

Rob has been writing fiction since the age of 14 and draws his inspiration from authors in the magical realism genre such as Salman Rushdie, David Mitchell and Gunter Grass.

Murmuration is inspired by displays made by starlings over Blackpool’s North Pier during the winter.

Rob, 57, told The Gazette: “The book tells the story of five different people whose lives are connected in one way or another to the pier of a seaside resort.

“It is not Blackpool and North Pier, but obviously working here for years I have got inspiration from the town.

“If anyone has seen the starling flocks in flight over North Pier they will remember, it’s an amazing spectacle and those murmurations are like a metaphor that runs through the book.”