Home fixture for Beckham writer Narinder

The author who penned the football film favourite Bend It Like Beckham made a return visit to her home area to talk to children's groups about her work.

The Wolverhampton-born author gave presentations to youngsters from several Kidderminster schools, including St John's Primary.

Narinder Dhami, aged 49, first won a computer in a competition to write the first three chapters of a Mills & Boon novel and then went on to write her first book, A Medal for Malina. She said it was a joy to return to her local area after she spoke to the children at the library in Market Street, Kidderminster.

Narinder and husband Robert Hodges, also 49, live in Cambridge but she said she enjoyed "returning home to see mum and sisters at Wolverhampton".

She has now written more than 150 children's books and established herself in children's fiction. Narinder said: "This is the national year of reading and I am hoping to persuade children to read more and hopefully even try to write. It is good to be back in the area I call home.

"It is wonderful to be in Kidderminster and it is surprising just how many children do love reading and who are interested in trying to write books."

After her presentations Narinder signed books for youngsters to take home.