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A Lindfield father and his daughter have published their first ever children’s book about a family of giant moles.

Giganta Moles – A New Beginning (Austin Macauley, £8.99) is written by Chris Best, of Backwoods Lane, and illustrated by Ashleigh Best from Hailsham.

Chris, 63, said his daughter came up with the idea in the mid-2000s at just eight years old.

He said: “She was living with her mum in Hailsham and I was in Haywards Heath at the time. It was during our journeys backwards and forwards. We’d just come out of Newick and there were these fields on the left with these huge mounds that looked like soil.”

Chris and Ashleigh Best with their recently published book, Giganta Moles – A New Beginning

Chris asked Ashleigh what could have created such a sight.

He said: “She happened to look out the window and looked back and said ‘Giganta Moles’. I said ‘oh, I didn't know there was such a thing’ and she said ‘oh yes, not many people know about that’.”

Ashleigh then told Chris about these remarkable creatures and they kept discussing what Giganta Moles did.

Chris said: “Once we had a motorbike roaring past us. I said ‘crikey they're in a hurry’ and she said ‘well they are Giganta Moles’. She said ‘you wouldn't know would you? They’re in full leathers with boots and gloves’.”

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Chris, who lives with his wife Madeline, retired in 2015 after selling his energy consultancy. He had promised Ashleigh that when he had time he would write Giganta Mole stories and said she could illustrate them.

So he started writing the tale of a Giganta Mole family who create a new underground home in a farmer’s field. Naturally, the farmer is none too pleased and a battle of wits begins.

Chris enjoyed the writing but was more happy about fulfilling his promise.

Ashleigh, who is now 25, said: “I’m so pleased and excited that our book has been published.”

She said: “The fact that Dad has remembered and produced a wonderfully depicted version of our story is very heart-warming for me.”

Ashleigh said she pursued drawing in college and added: “It was really sentimental to pick up a pencil again for a very special reason.”

Chris now has eight tales written for children aged seven to nine.

People can ask for A New Beginning at Waterstones or buy it at amazon.co.uk.

Lindfield author and daughter publish first ever children’s book about mischievous Giganta Moles