Last updated at 16:19, Friday, 07 September 2012

MORE than a century after he first made an appearance, the Lake District’s most famous rabbit is returning in a brand-new tale.

The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit, written by Oscar-winning actress and screen-writer Emma Thompson, is the 24th tale in the existing collection of Peter Rabbit stories.

It is the first time that Frederick Warne has ever published an additional title to the series which Beatrix Potter wrote between 1902 and 1930.

The new story sees Peter’s adventures take him beyond the boundaries of Mr McGregor’s garden all the way to Scotland, where he meets the gentle giant Finlay McBurney, a distant Scottish relative, before returning home to his Lake District home.

Emma, 52, was inspired to set the tale in Scotland and create this new character by her knowledge of Beatrix Potter’s childhood holidays there, having been asked to take on writing duties by the publishers because of her similar dry sense of humour to Miss Potter’s.

She says: “I’ve always loved Beatrix Potter, as a child and then as a mother and all the years in-between as well.

“When Mr Rabbit invited me to write a further tale, I was more honoured than I can say.

“I hope I don’t let him or his extraordinary creator down.”

The illustrations to the story have been created by Ellie Taylor, whose great affinity for the countryside is reflected in the engaging characters and beautiful scenes in the new tale.

At the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, in Bowness, this exciting new development to the Beatrix Potter series is being celebrated with a brand new centre-piece to the exhibition; an interactive digital display featuring extracts and illustrations from the new story along with video footage of Emma Thompson describing the process of writing the book.

Young Peter Rabbit fans will also enjoy new games featuring illustrations from the book.

To celebrate the launch of the new book, the attraction is holding a Further Tale of Peter Rabbit fun day tomorrow, where all children can enter the attraction free of charge, giving families the opportunity to be some of the first to see the new story and hear more about the new characters.

An actress playing Beatrix Potter will be reading the story at 11am, noon and 1pm to children and they will be given the chance to win copies of the book signed by Emma Thompson.

Not only that, but fans of the books will also have the chance to meet the famous bunny himself.

First published at 16:18, Friday, 07 September 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk