A NOVEL inspired by Cumbria's foot and mouth outbreak is set to be released.

The Borrowed Hills is the debut western novel by Windermere-raised author Scott Preston.

Scott is the son and grandson of drystone wallers and grew up in the Lake District where his debut novel, The Borrowed Hills, is set.

The author watched his community devastated when foot-and-mouth struck in the 2000s. That inspired this novel, along with his love of new-wave westerns and the language and scenery of his home country. 

He said: "I spent a lot of time outside in the Lakes. I wanted to write something from the point of someone who lived there.

"Only my dad read it - he is evangelical about the Lake District and I wanted him to be almost like a consultant about it."

The author, who has lived in Keswick, Kendal, Ulverston and Hawkshead, worked as a freelance copywriter for 10 years said that he 'always wanted to be a writer.'

The 32-year-old has already started writing his next book which explores a different genre, science fiction. 

The Borrowed Hills by Scott Preston will be launched on April 11 in hardback, ebook and audio.

Scott is planning to have a physical launch event in the Lake District.