A journalist who was made redundant after 33 years with a regional daily has realised his dream of publishing a children’s book.

Jon Peake. who worked for the Wigan Post until October last year, has used the blow as a chance to publish a story he made up for his children Josh, Jacob and Ethan when they were younger.

Jon, pictured, began his career as a sports reporter before moving into news and then into sub-editing and finally digital – managing the Post’s Wigan Today website for more than 15 years.

The 50-year-old’s story is a rhyming picture book with main characters Jacob, his shaggy pet dog Fred and Fred’s little pet flea – who was rescued from a flea circus.

Jon told his old newspaper: “Being made redundant was a bit of a shock – you kind of think you’re bulletproof after so long with the same company – but unfortunately times change and journalism is one of the industries where technology plays a large part in the size of the workforce.

“I’ve been fortunate to be able to pick up some sub-editing shifts and I’ve finally got round to publishing a book I wrote when my children were little.

“My youngest is 17 now, so they’ve been sitting in my drafts for over a decade.  I always intended to get at least one illustrated and published but never really had the time to get round to it.”

He added: “When my lads were young they really liked the books by Julia Donaldson, the queen of rhyming children’s books. The Gruffalo, Tabby McTat, Room On the Broom, Stick Man – they were some of their favourites.

“So I decided to try and write one in rhyming style and of similar length and it wasn’t long before Jacob McFee was born. Before I knew it I’d written three and Jacob and the Pirate Ship is the first.

“My lads loved them – particularly Jacob – who, at six, was the perfect age for that kind of story and who the main character is loosely based on.”