IT TURNS out that a dog and duck story is not just something you hear at the local pub.

Former nurse and now children's author, Juliet Deacock, has just released her second book about the tale of an orphaned duckling.

Tatty Duck Grown Up is the second instalment of her series, which follows the true story of a duckling raised by a brown Labrador.

"Some years back, myself and Shelley Hughes nursed together at Winchester College," said Juliet.

"It was Shelley that took in and reared this duckling. I was so taken by her photographs and tales of the fun they had at home with the duck and dog that I decided to try and write a poem about their story and that seemed to evolve into a children's book.

"Feeling brave I decided to write a follow up story and this too was accepted for publication by Austin Macauley."

The duckling raised by Shelley Hughes was found in Itchen Abbas on a lady's pond.

Shelley then reared her with the help of her brown Labrador Barny, in their Itchen Stoke cottage by the river.

The first book, Tatty Duck, was released last year. It tells the tale of how the duckling grew up in the house and garden, learning to swim in a bucket and a paddling pool and how it became friends with Barny.

Juliet said: "Dog and duckling would cuddle up together and later share walks across the meadows.

"The duckling had a little upturned beak, and so was a little different from the other ducklings and this later meant that when it was older they could recognise it on the river.

"The book, written in verse has photographs of the fun they shared at the back."

Tatty Duck Grown Up' is a tale of Tatty's adventures after she settles to life on the river.

It has educational page at the back for children to learn a little about the river wildlife. It is suitable for two to five year olds.

The books are available from Amazon and Waterstones.