A co-writer of the Mr Bean series came to town to sign copies of his new mystery thrillers.

Writer and actor Robin Driscoll has taken his career in a different direction and written ‘Unborn’ and ‘Still Warm’, which follow the investigations of a police officer.

He said he wanted to give his support to independent book shops and spent the day at Antonia Squire’s The Book Shop in South Street, Bridport, last week, signing copies for Mr Bean and mystery thriller fans.

Mr Driscoll said: “I decided to write what I like to read, and I like fast paced mystery thrillers.

“Unborn is about a female American police officer Josie, who finds herself investigating the murder of her father, but being too close to the case, is unable to draw on the use of police resources.

“Her journey takes her to Ireland and then to a monastery in the Black Forest, where she gets embroiled in a secret society, only to find that her father was not her real father.

“The plot thickens as she finds herself drawn to the Vatican City during elections of the new pope.

“Still Warm is set in Manhattan in New York state. Josie’s goddaughter is kidnapped on the day that she leaves the police force.

“The personal investigation takes her to a place where she has to confront the monsters from the past.”

Mr Driscoll spends a lot of time in west Dorset.

He added: “I love Bridport, my wife’s family come from here. Her grandparents had a farm behind Eggardon Hill, so we have always been drawn here.”

Both books are available from The Book Shop, or if copies have run out, they can be ordered through the shop with next day delivery.