TWO pensioners say they got the shock of their lives when they bumped into Harry Potter author JK Rowling and her husband.

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Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling) Ken and Jean Crosby, of Sands Road, Ulverston had headed into Barrow shopping when they spotted the famous writer.

The 50-year-old was in the town carrying out research in her third crime caper hunting a serial killer. Writing as under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith her novel Career of Evil is to be serialised by the BBC and could see filming in the town. 

The book mentions Ulverston as the "birthplace of Stan Laurel" and described passing Craven Park the home of Barrow Raiders.

The detective duo eventually head to Cavendish Street where they eat in the popular cafe The Last Resort. 

The novel sees private detectives chasing suspects from the London suburbs to Barrow and also references the Crows Nest pub, Olympic Takeaway, Barrow Grammar School for Boys and BAE Systems. 

Mr Crosby, 73 and his 68-year-old wife remember the day well.

He said: "It was October 14 last year and our wedding anniversary.

"We came across her twice. The first time she was coming along Cavendish Street near where Bodycare used to be. My wife recognised her first. We thought she might be doing a book signing so we walked to Waterstones and asked but that wasn't happening.

"We then saw her again walking passed the Evening Mail and up Emlyn Street and up to the car park behind McDonald's. I said 'hello' to her and she smiled and said it back. She was very smartly dressed in a camel coat. She then got into a 4X4 with her husband.

"I thought maybe she was here because her husband is an anaesthetist and he had come for a job. I knew she was here for some reason.

"It's nice to know she used the town as an inspiration for a story.

"I Tweeted her when I got home but she didn't respond.

"I don't think anyone recognised her as she walked around but then again no one expects to see someone of that calibre in Barrow."

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